Trying to communicate in a language that’s not your first language can be very stressful when you need health care. You have the right to talk about your health in a way that you feel comfortable with and an interpreter can help with this.
It's best not to use someone you know as an interpreter. Even though a family member or friend may have excellent English skills, they may not be able to understand health-related information well. This can create misunderstandings in the information shared between you and your healthcare provider.
If you’re in hospital
Let staff know that you need an interpreter. Let them know what your preferred spoken language is (including dialect) and your preferred written language.
Here are some charts you can use to help communicate what your preferred language is.
- The UK National Register of Public Service Interpreters has produced a Language Identification Chart(external link) of commonly spoken languages.
- The UK Refugee Council has also produced a Language Identification Chart(external link) covering 62 different languages for refugees and asylum seekers.
If you need to see another healthcare provider, such as a GP
Let them know as soon as possible that you need an interpreter. It can take up to a day for the healthcare service to book an interpreter, but if you need one urgently, ask the service if it’s possible to arrange one for you.
For some languages, a professional interpreter can come to your appointment in person. For other languages, professional interpreters are only available on the phone.
