Meeting the communication needs and preferences of people with hearing loss and deafness during the covid-19 outbreak

That this House recognises that the use of opaque face masks can act as a barrier to communication for the 12 million people with hearing loss across the UK; welcomes the recent approval of a transparent mask by the Department of Health and Social Care; asks the Government to issue further guidance for health and social care providers to ensure that the context in which transparent masks can be used is fully understood; urges the Government to increase the supply of transparent masks in health and social care settings and provide deaf awareness and communication tips where transparent masks are not available; further urges the Government to remind health and social care providers of their obligations under the Accessible Information Standard in meeting the communication needs and preferences of people with hearing loss and deafness; and calls on the Government to include transparent masks within the Government’s free personal protective equipment offer for social care providers.