A hospital communication kit is available for patients who are Deaf or hard of hearing. It contains valuable information and items to help overcome communication difficulties which may be experienced during an admission or outpatient visit to hospital. You can choose to use what will best help you from the kit.

Communication kits are available free of charge from the following wards and departments across Redland Hospital:

• Main Hospital Reception
• Emergency Department
• Ground Floor Medical Outpatients Department
• Macleay Ward
• Canaipa Ward
• Stradbroke Ward
• Health Service Centre
• Allied Health Building
• Wynnum-Manly Community Health Centre, Gundu Pa.

The kit contains:

• a Pocketalker device with headset, instructions and batteries
• a Boogie Board
• disposable ear piece covers
• visual pain scale—to help explain how you are feeling
• communication alert sign—staff will place this at your bedside
• hearing aid / cochlear implant patient information brochure
• page of stickers—to let staff know you are Deaf or hard of hearing
• feedback form—for you to tell us what you thought of the kit.

The communication kit is also available for you to print out before coming to hospital by going to the relevant links below. Print whatever you need from the kit. It is a good idea to bring with you a small box or bag for holding your hearing aids as well as a paper and pen.

For patients who use sign language, you will require a qualified interpreter. Asking a relative, friend or untrained person to interpret is often not in your best interest, as this person may not interpret accurately.