FOI 26-148 Mute or Non-Speaking Patients
Freedom of Information Request
- Reference
- FOI 26-148 Mute or Non-Speaking Patients
- Request Date
- 15 Mar 2026
- Response Date
- 01 Apr 2026
- Information Requested
What is the training for paramedics to establish communication with unaccompanied mute or non-speaking patients? What suggestions are giving for facilitation communication with communication aids?
- Response
In line with the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, the Scottish Ambulance Service can only provide information that is held in recorded form. No additional specific training documents, policies, or guidance relating solely to communication with unaccompanied mute or non‑speaking patients are held.
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not provide training that is specifically focused on mute or non‑speaking patients as a separate subject.
However, paramedics are trained in general communication and patient‑centred care, which includes adapting how they communicate where a patient is unable to speak. This training encourages staff to take time, show compassion, avoid making assumptions, and adjust their approach based on the needs of the individual patient. These principles are applied across many clinical situations, including where verbal communication is limited.
Guidance on respectful and inclusive language is also included within national clinical guidelines, which advise staff to use person‑centred terminology and to avoid outdated or inappropriate language.
The Service does not hold any specific training materials or modules that deal solely with communication with unaccompanied mute or non‑speaking patients.
The Scottish Ambulance Service does not hold a specific policy or formal guidance on the use of communication aids for mute or non‑speaking patients.
In practice, paramedics are encouraged through general training and professional standards to adapt their communication where needed. This may include using non‑verbal methods, written communication, or supporting a patient to use any communication aid they already have, where this is appropriate and safe to do so. These approaches form part of broader patient‑centred care and are not set out in a standalone document or protocol
