NHS spends £130k a day on translations for non-English speaking patients.

Does that include Welsh, I know in Wales things always seem to be in both languages. Not aware if the same applies to Gaelic

I crushed a vertebra whilst on holiday in France quite a few years ago. To my shame my French is limited and did not extend to being able to explain in detail what had happened. A translator would have been a godsend.

Casdon

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Thank you escaped for supporting what I’m trying to say here but in a much better way. ✔️

But what escaped said isn’t an accurate description of how translation services work in France FriedGreenTomatoes2?

I've explained accurately how it works for English speakers who have little French.
Because I translated for them.
Perhaps you could explain for people speaking non European languages then? And include the way the costs would be charged, unlike the NHS.

It’s only £44m peanuts - not

Whitewavemark2

I crushed a vertebra whilst on holiday in France quite a few years ago. To my shame my French is limited and did not extend to being able to explain in detail what had happened. A translator would have been a godsend.

However you didn’t get one (sorry for your injury though) and France didn’t shell out. As I said, just us!

Whitewavemark2

I crushed a vertebra whilst on holiday in France quite a few years ago. To my shame my French is limited and did not extend to being able to explain in detail what had happened. A translator would have been a godsend.

Would you have accepted that you would need to pay though?

I'm not a medical translator, but I would say it's weird having to describe someone else's pain and symptoms. That where having a rational brain actually works wonders. You simply translate it as it is said! 😆

£44 million David. Per year. On translators. Just so unnecessary. Other European countries manage fine without them.

Bring a friend or relative.
Pay for your own translation.

People would soon get used to it.

Allira

MollyNew

This sounds like yet another FGT Daily Mail headline designed to provoke division in society.

I expect when it's broken down, the figure quoted includes BSL interpreters for deaf patients, help for blind and partially sighted people and other similar assistance for people with communication difficulties and learning difficulties but maybe we shouldn't be 'pandering' to people who can't fend for themselves?

Why not find out and provide some statistics so we can see?

Because I didn't start the thread. I am responding to it, as invited to by the one who did.

escaped

Casdon

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Thank you escaped for supporting what I’m trying to say here but in a much better way. ✔️

But what escaped said isn’t an accurate description of how translation services work in France FriedGreenTomatoes2?

I've explained accurately how it works for English speakers who have little French.
Because I translated for them.
Perhaps you could explain for people speaking non European languages then? And include the way the costs would be charged, unlike the NHS.

Yes escaped. I put into Google ‘France Heath Service translation Indian’ to see what it said, the result of which what I posted. Interpretation services from French to other European languages do not pose the same challenges in the health system as to other languages, which is why I said your description was not accurate, apologies, I should have said it was not comprehensive, because of the French Government guidance and the fact that many areas are now developing services in response, some of which are free.

I'm with you FGT and I dread to think what the cost for translators also is in other public services is such as the police force

The hospital trust my dd worked in did not permit use of Google Translate or any other online translation service because they are not secure and patient confidentiality may be compromised. Medics also are not allowed to have patient details on their phones for the same reason.

The Trust did have a translation service but it was out of action due to IT difficulties. Staff had to muddle through with using staff to translate if family/friends were not available. My dd had a very difficult problem when a patient only spoke a rare dialect of a S Asian language which is dying out even in that country. They had to rely on a junior doctor who happened to have spent six months in the area and had picked up a smattering of words.

So you would like ill and frightened people to be treated a little bit worse. I am actually glad our country is better than that.

My worry with translation online sites for medical issues is that they don't pick up on nuances. They're a bit like a glorified dictionary and you can end up with incorrect usage of words and misunderstanding.
Also I don't think they cover every rare language there is.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

£44 million David. Per year. On translators. Just so unnecessary. Other European countries manage fine without them.

Bring a friend or relative.
Pay for your own translation.

People would soon get used to it.

Such empathy shown for those who are ill, probably frightened and may be alone!

Our son went to university.in the Czech Republic, he managed a serious injury, dental appointments and GP appointments without a translator.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

£44 million David. Per year. On translators. Just so unnecessary. Other European countries manage fine without them.

Bring a friend or relative.
Pay for your own translation.

People would soon get used to it.

For the second time, what you are saying is untrue. Other countries in Europe do have translation services.

AI Overview

Many European countries have national or regional initiatives to provide healthcare translation services, but the provision and quality vary significantly. Sweden has a centralized system, and Norway grants patients a legal right to translated health information. Ireland provides guidelines for doctors to find interpreters, while the United Kingdom has a legal mandate for language services under the Equality Act 2010. Other countries, like Germany, may rely more on charities and volunteers, though some national efforts and centralized systems are also in place.
Countries with Established Systems or Rights:
Sweden: Has a centralized system allowing doctors to book interpreter calls.
Norway: Patients have a legal right to receive health information and treatment in a language they understand.
United Kingdom: The Equality Act 2010 mandates language services in healthcare.
Ireland: The Health Service has issued guidelines for doctors on finding interpreters.
Countries with Varying or Developing Provision:
Germany:
While the system is inconsistent, some organizations like Communication in Medical Settings provide interpretation, particularly for refugees.
France:
Has specific services, with a mention of professional interpreting for doctors.
Switzerland:
Has a need for qualified interpreters, moving away from using volunteers due to the complex health needs of influxes of refugees.

All the detail, by country, is available via Google if you care to look for the actual facts.

Ah facts Casdon … those old chestnuts 🙈

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Hmm. That they bring a friend Casdon who can interpret for them? A novel idea I know.

Or as most people have a smartphone, Google Translate.

I wonder what Wes Streeting makes of it all?

You can't be sure a relative or friend will translate correctly .....so ibterpreters are needed ...we use a telephone interpreter service where I work in the community......its not a new thing ...I've been with this team 17 years ...been using interpreters that long...likely much longer

Sago

Our son went to university.in the Czech Republic, he managed a serious injury, dental appointments and GP appointments without a translator.

Marvellous

Thankyou Casdon- I was just about to say that of course they have translators in other health services overseas.

Accessing them though, would be just as patchy as it is here depending on many different factors.

No one wants nuance though- it doesn't make for good arguments.

You can't be sure a relative or friend will translate correctly .....so ibterpreters are needed ...we use a telephone interpreter service where I work in the community......its not a new thing ...I've been with this team 17 years ...been using interpreters that long...likely much longer

Yes, technically, interpreters are used when speech needs to be translated. As opposed to translators who work with written documents.
But as said earlier, unless face to face medical staff cannot pick up on nuances, often bodily, especially with a foreign patient.

LOUISA1523

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Hmm. That they bring a friend Casdon who can interpret for them? A novel idea I know.

Or as most people have a smartphone, Google Translate.

I wonder what Wes Streeting makes of it all?

You can't be sure a relative or friend will translate correctly .....so ibterpreters are needed ...we use a telephone interpreter service where I work in the community......its not a new thing ...I've been with this team 17 years ...been using interpreters that long...likely much longer

Yes I appreciate that. I’ve been retired from the NHS for just over 10 years now & I recall translators being used in clinic sessions occasionally.

However, the numbers using this service have grown exponentially. Hence the increased financial cost!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

£44 million David. Per year. On translators. Just so unnecessary. Other European countries manage fine without them.

Bring a friend or relative.
Pay for your own translation.

People would soon get used to it.

We ask questions about domestic abuse and mental health....we couldn't ask these questions via a friend or relative

£130k per day is meaningless without knowing how many patients or hours were involved. Professional medical translation as opposed to muddling along could save lives and certainly a good deal of time.

FGT where are you getting these figures from please?

I asked ChatGPT who could find no such figures for translators.

Nearest figures for NHS translation services were:

Gloucestershire Health & Care NHS Foundation Trust
£130k for the year 2018-2019
(foi.ghc.nhs.uk)

Norfolk & Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust
£126k in 2020-2021)
(questions-statements.parliament.uk)

As these figures are for whole years, they are nothing like the daily figures you have quoted.

ChatGPT concluded that there is no credible evidence that the NHS spends £130k per day on translating and interpreting services across England or the UK, but that the figure seems to be a misinterpretation of annual or trust-level data.