Why bother voting in the 2026 elections

Politics shaping the future for deaf people

By Abigail Gorman, Kirsty Dix and Nathan Draper, the SignHealth Policy Team:

Politics is not something that everyone is passionate about, and that is completely understandable. People have different levels of interest, different motivations, and different life circumstances.

But here is something to think about: whether or not you are interested in politics, politics affects you. It influences your health, your work, your family, your housing. It influences almost every part of how we live our lives, including how we use and access services as deaf people.

Local elections are taking place on Thursday 7 May in much of England, as well as devolved elections in Scotland and Wales.

You can find out if your area is having an election by typing in your postcode here: https://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/i-am-a/voter/your-election-information

It is also important to remember you will need to bring photo ID to vote in England. For Scottish people photo ID is NOT required for the Scottish Parliament elections.

Why bother?

The answer is simple: local politics is where real change starts. It is not something that only happens in Parliament. It happens in your GP surgery, your local council chamber, your children’s school. When we talk about deaf people’s health and access, we are often talking about decisions made at a local level, decisions that are directly shaped by who is elected.

photograph of an older lady, white short hair wearing a green top sitting down against a white wall with graphic text

Do you find it difficult to get a GP appointment? Vote
Are you worried about access to your dental surgery? Vote
Do you think deaf people need better representation in decision-making? Vote
Are you worried about how elderly people are supported in care homes? Vote
Do you think more should be done to support children and young people? Vote

Apart from voting, what else can I do?

There are lots of ways you can engage in politics – locally or nationally.

Contact your MP about any issues that you are concerned about. You can find your MP here – Find your MP – UK Parliament.
Contact your councillor about local issues Find your local councillors – GOV.UK
Arrange a meeting for a politician to meet with the local deaf community – perhaps at your Deaf Club or community centre. In November 2025, in Derby SignHealth hosted the UK’s first ever deaf-specific MP “advice surgery”
Or campaign with a group or charity for better healthcare access in your community. You could even apply to join national groups like the the BSL Advisory Board or BSL Alliance.

We are not here to tell you who to vote for. But we do ask you to think carefully about who you believe will best represent your community — and especially, who will take deaf people’s health and access seriously.

How can we remove barriers and improve healthcare for deaf people?

Research and resources

Want to become an accessible health service provider?

Creating meaningful change starts with action. If you want your health services to be a place where deaf people can access support with confidence, begin your deaf accessibility journey with SignHealth by getting in touch.

Training and Consultancy

SignHealth has three key asks for the government

Invest in deaf mental health services for all ages

Mental health services for deaf people are underfunded and often lack comprehensive pathways and specialist provisions. The absence of dedicated services and trained specialists means that deaf people face significant barriers in accessing appropriate mental health care. The Shaping the Future of deaf mental health report highlights these barriers and demonstrates the urgent need for increased investment to ensure that mental health support is accessible and effective for deaf people of all ages.

Include deaf people in decision-making

Involving deaf people in the design and delivery of healthcare services ensures these services meet their needs. By incorporating the insights and experiences of deaf people, healthcare providers can develop a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by this community. This collaborative approach leads to the creation of healthcare services fit for purpose, improving access and outcomes for deaf patients. The NHS England Rapid Review of British Sign Language Interpreting Services includes 17 recommendations for Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) to follow, offering guidance on effectively engaging with the deaf community and ensuring their needs are met.

Increase access to healthcare for all deaf people

Deaf people frequently encounter significant barriers in accessing healthcare, resulting in inequitable treatment. Our latest report Still Ignored: The fight for accessible healthcare reveals that many deaf people struggle to make appointments, often arrive at appointments without the necessary support, and face difficulties in making a complaint. These obstacles highlight the need for systemic changes to ensure that healthcare services are fully accessible to deaf people, providing them with the same quality of care available to the hearing population. When referring to “equity” we recognise that each person has different circumstances and that the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome should be allocated.

Fantastic to have our Children and Young People’s Team involved in the making of these videos because we want to see these changes in place for the deaf community today and for generations to come.