Author Jojo Moyes’ deaf son missed urgent appointment due to hospital leaving voicemail message

Jojo Moyes, the author and journalist best known for her romance novel Me Before You, has revealed how her deaf son missed an urgent medical appointment because staff chose to ring him and leave a voicemail message.

This was despite Moyes’ son, who was not named in the writer’s tweets on Thursday, having a note on his medical records about him being deaf.

Moyes said: “He has been at the same surgery his whole life. Two weeks ago he missed an urgent appointment because they left a message on his voicemail.

“I have just been waiting outside the same surgery for an hour for him to have that appointment. Went in to see why it was taking so long. He had ‘tapped in’ at [8:55am].

“I asked why the long wait. Receptionist: ‘we called him’. Me: ‘he’s… deaf?’ 

“He is now waiting for the next appointment. This is what deaf people have to deal with.”

I asked why the long wait. Receptionist: “we called him”. Me: “he’s … deaf?” He is now waiting for the next appointment. This is what deaf people have to deal with. Sorry, just needed to vent.

— Jojo Moyes (@jojomoyes) March 17, 2022

Deaf people have since echoed the son’s experience, with one replying that it is the “story of my life” as a deaf/hard of hearing person.

“[This is] exactly why I hate going to the doctors and when I do, my anxiety levels hit the roof for fear of missing my name being called out – especially if they’re wearing a mask. So I avoid going and only go if I have to,” another added.

A third wrote: “This is why flashing screens in hospital/GP settings are such a lifeline. I usually spend ages making myself sick with anxiety waiting for appointments in places that don’t have them.

“I’m like a meerkat – constantly on the lookout for my name on someone’s lips.”

The experience of Moyes’ son comes just a month after the deaf health charity SignHealth found that 81% of deaf people surveyed have had an appointment where their communication needs weren’t met.

“Many of the actions required to improve access to services, communication with healthcare providers, and long-term condition management are simple and cost-neutral, or cost-saving, if implemented correctly,” said Abigail Gorman, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the charity.

By Liam O’Dell. Liam is an award-winning Deaf freelance journalist and campaigner from Bedfordshire. He can be found talking about disability, theatre, politics and more on Twitter and on his website.