Deaf patient 'shocked and upset' after she was given wrong vaccine due to a sign language error

Deaf patient 'shocked and upset' after she was given wrong vaccine due to a sign language error A deaf woman went to her GP for a flu jab but started to experience unexpected symptoms - she later realsied the practice gave her the wrong vaccine A deaf woman said she felt "very shocked and very upset" after discovering she had been given the wrong vaccine as there was no British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter at her doctor's surgery. Samantha Nicholls Juett, 32, said she went to her GP for a flu jab but realised something was wrong after she started to feel sick. The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) said the woman had booked a flu jab but was given a Covid vaccine instead. Samantha told the Mirror she was not told about the error and only discovered what had happened by checking the NHS app. She had experienced symptoms of the Covid jab - including a temperature, shivering, confusion and a painful arm - which were unexpected as she signed up for a different vaccine, the report said. Samantha told the Mirror how she noticed something had gone wrong after her visit to the GP, saying: "I realised that I had been given the wrong vaccination when I started to feel very unwell. "I had been to my GP for the flu vaccination and when I returned home I started to feel very unwell and hot. When I checked the NHS App I realised that I had been given the Covid vaccination. I felt very shocked and very upset." The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman said staff failed to show Samantha a BSL video which would have highlighted the mistake. It added that the incident would have been prevented if Samantha was shown an explanatory video or had a BSL interpreter. Samantha told the PHSO she felt the practice had "violated her, and she had lost trust in it". Samantha said the GP attempted to blame her grandmother. The PHSO report stated the surgery said it received consent for the vaccine through the grandmother, despite the nan having early-stage dementia. The 32-year-old told the Mirror: "When I informed my GP surgery they were very defensive. They tried to blame my nan, but the evidence that I should have been given the flu vaccination was clearly stated on my phone, which I had shown to the surgery on the day. They would not accept that they were wrong and a period of stressful arguments, lasting two years began. Finally, when presented with the unquestionable evidence, they accepted that they had been wrong." She revealed the impact this ordeal has had on her, saying: "Now when I visit my GP or have a hospital appointment, I feel very anxious and nervous. I insist that I am always allowed to check the labels of any vaccinations or medication that I am given." Samantha shared what she believed needed to change to prevent another ordeal like the one she suffered. The woman told the Mirror: "In the future it is essential that a BSL interpreter is always booked for all medical appointments. It is very important that deaf people have full access to clear and accurate information. This will prevent any misunderstanding and mistakes in the future." The PHSO recommended for the GP to apologise to Samantha and pay her £450 for the distress she experienced. A spokesperson for NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board said it was "very sorry" to hear about Samantha's experience. The trust said it works closely with GPs to "ensure patients can access healthcare in a way that meets their communication needs and enables informed consent", including BSL interpreters where required. The spokesperson added: "We expect practices to make reasonable adjustments to support effective communication and patient understanding throughout their care. While we cannot comment on the specifics of an individual case, we are committed to supporting practices to provide safe, accessible and patient-centred care for all." This comes as the ombudsman warned that people with disabilities were being let down by poor or inaccessible communications. The PHSO said disabled people are at risk of not getting vital information because some services fail to provide accessible tools like audio materials.