Brisbane local, Carol Kleech, spoken out about the lack of Auslan interpreters available in Queensland hospitals after she was left without one after an emergency surgery.
Mrs Kleech said she was left completely in the dark and called for better services for deaf people in hospitals, saying interpreters need to be present 24 hours a day.
Mrs Kleech’s case is not an isolated one with Auslan interpreter and advocate Gail Smith saying lack of interpreters is a big problem right now and calls on the government to review contracts with Auslan interpreting agencies to improve availability and educate hospital staff on how to book them.