Law & Human
Rights

BSL

What is the Law and Human Rights hub?

The Law and Human Rights hub, led by Dr Rob Wilks (UWE Bristol) and Ceri Harris (Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board), explores how legal frameworks affect the lives of deaf people in Wales, especially in healthcare and social care contexts.  It focuses on reviewing laws and policies, improving how deaf people experience complaints systems, and using data to highlight problems and solutions.  Our aim is simple but ambitious: to make rights real for the Welsh deaf community.

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Using the law for change

Reviewing legal protections and health policies to find what’s missing and push for action.

Fixing complaints systems

Working with NHS partners to make complaints easier, fairer, and accessible in BSL.

Making rights real

Turning equality law into something deaf people can actually use and rely on.

Reviewing NHS complaints data

Using real NHS complaint data to spotlight where deaf people are being let down and how to fix it.

What are we doing?

Reviewing the law

Finding gaps in protecting deaf people’s rights

 

Improving complaints processes

Redesigning complaint procedures so they are easy for deaf people to use

Reviewing complaints data

Examining complaint records from NHS health boards to see where deaf patients have been failed, and where changes are needed

Collecting lived experiences

We’re gathering real stories from deaf people about their experiences with complaints systems, helping us to understand what’s working, what isn’t, and how to fix it

Deaf people in Wales still face barriers to making complaints about health and care services. Many don’t know their rights, don’t feel heard, or give up altogether. That silence wasn’t a choice. It was the result of systems that still don’t work for us.

Facts & Figures

  • There are between 4,000 to 69,000 BSL signers in Wales.

  • The law often overlooks the Welsh deaf community’s needs.

  • Laws like the Future Generations Act don’t mention deaf people or BSL.

  • The provision of BSL-English interpreters by health boards is patchy.

  • Many deaf people don’t know how, or if they’re allowed to complain.

  • Most health boards don’t report on deaf-specific complaint issues.

FAQs

How important is this hub?

Deaf people in Wales still face serious barriers when using health and legal systems. This hub exists to make rights real by improving access, fixing broken systems, and making sure deaf voices are heard and acted on.

What kind of initiatives are planned?

We’re reviewing equality and health laws, working with partners like Llais and WITS to improve complaints systems, analysing real complaints data, and creating resources that help deaf people understand and use their rights.

Why is this necessary?

Many deaf people don’t know how, or if, they can raise a complaint. When systems are inaccessible or unclear, people give up. This hub exists to change that, so deaf people can challenge poor treatment and shape better services.

I want to help - what can I do?

Share your experience of using complaints systems, help us test new resources, or get in touch to support the project. You can email us at legalhub@bangor.ac.uk.  We’d love to hear from you.

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