Queensland hospitals are failing to provide adequate Auslan services at critical times.

Auslan interpreter and advocate Gail Smith called on the government to review its contracts with Auslan interpreting agencies and improve the availability of qualified interpreters. 

A Queensland Health spokesperson says Auslan interpreters were used on almost 4,000 occasions by Queensland Health in 2020.

Video conferencing interpreting services are used when an on-site interpreter is not available.