Cornwall NHS recognised for BSL diabetes films at national awards

A young deaf man from Cornwall told his story, and it ended up changing how the NHS communicates with deaf patients right across the country.

NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board has been named a regional champion at the first-ever NHS Excellence Awards, picking up the Patient Involvement and Choice Award for a project built around ‘Isaac’s story’.

What the project did

Isaac’s experience as a young deaf man living in Cornwall laid bare the communication barriers that stop many deaf people getting safe, timely and appropriate care. His story sparked wider conversations with deaf people across the county, and those conversations led to real changes in how local services work.

The project was delivered alongside Diabetes UK, Hearing Loss Cornwall, members of the long-term conditions lived experience group, and the Deaf Community Centre. The result is a set of practical changes including more deaf awareness and communication training for NHS staff, health information made available in British Sign Language, and a national partnership with Diabetes UK that has produced BSL diabetes advice films now being used across the UK.

What the deaf community say

Chris Gould, a member of the diabetes lived experience group who is deaf and has type 2 diabetes, helped shape the BSL films. He said: “This is brilliant news. Including sign language means so much to the deaf community and allows a far more inclusive service. Without this, deaf people can easily become a forgotten group.”

He added: “By making these videos, it has opened up questions from people who might otherwise have remained silent. I really hope this approach spreads to other areas for many years to come.”

Terence Spivey, chairman of the Deaf Community Centre, said: “This is fantastic news. It means more publicity and awareness of British Sign Language in the medical world. Helping NHS staff become more aware of the barriers the deaf community face when dealing with medical issues is a giant step forward, as many deaf patients have had to struggle to get help and support.”

Terence said the diabetes videos are only the start. “Creating diabetes videos in BSL is the first step, and I look forward to many more projects in the future. I would like to thank everyone involved and am so pleased to see this regional award win.”

NHS response

Lucy Tuson, director of communications and experience at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly and NHS Devon, said the recognition reflects the strength of partnership working with the deaf community.

“I am delighted that the great partnership work between our deaf community, Hearing Loss Cornwall and Diabetes UK has been recognised through winning this award,” Lucy said.

“We heard from local people about the challenges they face every day trying to access a range of services, and how health information is not easily available for deaf people. This led to the project to create a series of diabetes advice films in British Sign Language in partnership with Diabetes UK.”

She acknowledged there is more to do. “I am very grateful to everyone who was involved in creating the films, and it is fantastic to see them being used nationally. However, there is still so much more we all need to do to improve communications in health and all public services for deaf people, and we remain committed to doing that.”

Heather Taylor, long-term conditions clinical lead for Kernow Health CIC’s Cornwall primary care training hub, said the project changed how she sees the support deaf people need. “I really enjoyed working with everyone involved, and this project clearly highlights the need to better support the deaf community.”

Heather is now registering as a Diabetes UK volunteer and hopes to support the local lunch club in Camborne soon.

Phaedra Perry, head of the South West region for Diabetes UK, said: “We are delighted that the work Diabetes UK has contributed to, alongside the hearing loss community and our NHS colleagues, has been recognised with a regional NHS Excellence Award.”

She said the BSL films show what lived experience can achieve. “The production of the British Sign Language videos demonstrates how lived experience can effect real change, helping to make diabetes information more accessible to deaf patients across the UK.”

What happens next

Cornwall and Devon were named regional champions in seven of the ten award categories. Regional champions from across England now go forward to the national shortlist, with the final winners announced at a ceremony at NHS ConfedExpo in Manchester in June 2026.

The NHS Excellence Awards are the only awards run by, and for, the NHS, recognising innovation, quality improvement and leadership across health and care.