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Letters to the
Editor:- "Unsound Retailing"
"WHILST it is very sad for
employees of Jessops and HMV to lose their jobs at this time of
year, the loss of these retail outlets really needs to be put into
perspective. If Internet traders can supply goods cheaper and more
conveniently than town centre shops (with all their parking problems
deliberately engineered by local Councils), then these dinosaur
enterprises will inevitably become extinct. Perhaps if HMV had not
alienated customers like myself by stopping stocking their
traditional 78's, I might have been persuaded to continue shopping
there. As it is, my needs are now more than adequately catered for
online!" John Eoin Douglas
Do you agree with this letter? let us know by emailing us to:-
news24@southportreporter.com.
RETAIL CHARITY
RETAIL TRUST OFFERS SUPPORT TO HMV STAFF
FOLLOWING the news this
week, that over 4,500 jobs are at risk at major high street DVD and
CD chain HMV, Retail Trust, the only charity that looks after the
needs of all 3 million people working in retail, has pledged its
support to all staff affected by the company’s administration.
Staff at HMV’s 239 stores are since 15 November 2013, are awaiting
further updates, with many now facing an uncertain future. HMV is
the latest major high street name to suffer financial difficulty,
and the news comes less than a week after camera chain Jessops shut
all of its 187 stores, resulting in the loss of 1,370 jobs.
The Retail Trust Helpline saw a significant increase in calls
following news of Jessops’ demise, and even larger surges in demand
for its services are expected in the coming days.
The Retail Trust Helpline provides free, confidential and
independent advice and support for all staff affected by such
developments. The Helpline also provides access to Retail
Trust's ReWork programme, which provides a range of free services to
help retail staff find their next job, including workshops and
career coaching. Any retail
staff wishing to contact the Helpline can do so by calling:- 0808
801 0808 (Outside UK number:- +44 845 766 0113), emailing:-
helpline@retailtrust.org.uk or texting:- Helpline
on:- 88010.
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CHARITY CALLS
FOR SOUTHPORT GPS TO ENSURE EQUAL TREATMENT FOR PATIENTS WITH
HEARING LOSS
ACTION on Hearing Loss is
calling on Southport GPs to ensure they communicate in ways that
meet the individual needs of patients with hearing loss, following
the charity's national research which found 28% of respondents had
been unclear about a diagnosis during an appointment. For its
new report entitled:- 'Access all areas?' the
charity's survey found patients who felt unclear after a
consultation attributed the misunderstandings to their GP not facing
them (64%) and not always speaking clearly (57%). Action on Hearing
Loss says the findings suggest a severe lack of deaf awareness among
GPs which could easily be resolved through training and making
simple adjustments. Action on Hearing Loss is also urging GP
surgeries to have clear procedures in place to record details of
patients' hearing loss and their individual communication needs
after finding that, nationally, only 39% of respondents have this
vital information recorded. Under the Equality Act 2010, GP
surgeries must make 'reasonable adjustments' to be
accessible to people with disabilities and ensure that the 10
million people in the UK who have hearing loss experience the same
level of service as other patients.
Chief Executive of Action on Hearing Loss, Paul Breckell, said:-
"It's disappointing that many people with hearing loss have
difficulty understanding vital health advice because GPs aren't
meeting individual communication needs. With deaf awareness training
and simple changes, GPs can provide a much better service for
patients who are deaf or hard of hearing and help avoid unnecessary
follow-up appointments or the risk of exacerbated poor health."
Action on Hearing Loss encourages GP surgeries across Southport to
be accessible by following the charity's deaf awareness tips:-
► Keep a note that the patient has a hearing loss on their record
and check how they would prefer to make an appointment.
► The surgery should enable patients to contact them by email,
textphone or SMS as well as by telephone.
► Ensure GPs and staff are trained in basic deaf awareness and
realise that they may need to approach patients to let them know
it's time for the appointment.
► Make sure there is good lighting (so that you can be lipread) and
little or no background noise in your consultation room.
► Make sure you have the patient's attention before you speak and
check whether they understand what you're saying. If not, say it in
a different way.
► Face the person so you can be lipread and speak clearly, using
plain language, normal lip movements and facial expressions.
► Install a hearing loop in reception for hearing aid wearers, and
regularly check that it's working and staff are trained how to use
it. Don't raise your voice as it's uncomfortable for hearing aid
users.
► Provide a registered sign language interpreter for people who
communicate by British Sign Language (BSL).
To read the 'Access all areas?' report, visit:-
actiononhearingloss.org.uk/access. |
