Deafblind Awareness Week 2025

As claimant clinical negligence solicitors, Deafblind Awareness Week (23–29 June 2025) is a timely reminder of the critical importance of safeguarding the rights of individuals with dual sensory loss within our healthcare system.

At Freeths, we represent clients who have suffered avoidable harm due to systemic failures in care—and for those living with deafblindness, the risks are often heightened by communication barriers and a lack of reasonable adjustments.

Understanding Deafblindness

Deafblindness is a complex, life-altering condition that affects communication, mobility, and access to information. It is not simply the sum of being deaf and blind; it is a distinct disability that requires tailored support and understanding. In the UK, over 400,000 people are estimated to be living with some degree of dual sensory loss.

For many, this condition is congenital, while for others it develops later in life due to illness, injury, or age-related decline. Regardless of the cause, the impact on daily life—and on interactions with the healthcare system—can be significant.

Where clinical negligence can arise

Sadly, we have seen cases where individuals with deafblindness have suffered avoidable harm due to failures in communication, inadequate adjustments, or a lack of awareness from healthcare providers. These include:

• Missed diagnoses due to communication barriers
• Failure to provide interpreters or accessible information, leading to consent issues
• Neglect in hospital settings, where patients are unable to call for help or express pain
• Delayed treatment because of assumptions about a patient’s cognitive ability or capacity

These are not just unfortunate oversights—they can amount to breaches of duty of care, with devastating consequences.

Clinical negligence and legal redress

In our work, we see how these failures can lead to life-altering outcomes: deterioration in health, loss of independence, and psychological trauma. Where there is evidence that a healthcare provider breached their duty of care and caused harm, a clinical negligence claim may be appropriate.

Our role is to:

• Investigate the standard of care provided, including whether communication needs were identified and met.
• Instruct appropriate medical experts to assess causation and long-term impact.
• Secure compensation to support rehabilitation, care needs, and quality of life.
• Advocate for systemic change, ensuring lessons are learned and future harm is prevented.

Raising awareness, driving change

Deafblind Awareness Week is an opportunity for all of us—legal professionals, healthcare workers, and the wider public—to reflect on how we can do better. It’s a time to:

• Educate ourselves about the barriers faced by the deafblind community.
• Promote inclusive practices in healthcare and beyond.
• Support organisations like Sense and Deafblind UK, who provide vital services and advocacy.

Every person deserves to be seen, heard, and understood—especially when their health and wellbeing are at stake. As clinical negligence solicitors, we will continue to stand beside those affected by deafblindness, ensuring their rights are protected and their stories are told.