In England and Wales, the census found that at a population level 1.5% (880,000 people) could not speak English well, and 0.3% (161,000 people) were unable to speak English at all (ONS, 2022). While the vast majority of people in this country can speak English to a conversational standard, there are over one million people that are unable to speak English to this standard. It is estimated that the NHS sees 1.3 million people a day (NHS 2023), which is roughly 2.3% of the total population of the 56.9 million people that were recorded as living in England and Wales as of the most recent census (ONS 2022). Therefore, it can be inferred from this data that approximately 23,400 people per day require the services of the NHS, that are unable to speak English to a conversational level.
Why is this language barrier such a problem in the NHS? The NHS requires language competence when it comes to understanding patients’ problems, encountering mental illness, understanding behaviours and motivations, as well as explaining somatic symptoms (Lehane & Campion 2018). There are areas of the NHS which are essential to treating patients, and communication is something that is required for treating patients. Communication is a necessity within the NHS. Translators aid in supporting people who do not speak English conversationally, however, this can add an additional layer of complexity to an already stressful situation. This shows that there is a level of importance of communication that exists in order to deliver the services of the NHS as a basic requirement, but also provide the minimum basic comforts that patients should be offered.
On top of translating for patients, medical interpreters are able to help bridge the gap of the cultural divide between patients and staff (Squires 2018). Alongside different languages that people speak, there are a multitude of different cultures and beliefs that exist as well. This means that having a translator within healthcare services, as well as communicating to the patient and providing the sense of security and comfort that comes with speaking your native language, the additional cultural sensitivity can be beneficial.
However, whilst there are many positives to providing translators in the NHS, there are drawbacks regarding patient experience. This includes translators being late to appointments due to a shortage of positions, delaying patient care, as well as the need to get a translator quickly in acute situations, which may not always be possible. With a rise in telehealth and a rising demand for translators, online services have been developed to meet demand. Unfortunately, these services are not exempt from poor signal quality and can mean a lower level of satisfaction for both patient and practitioner.
Despite these negatives, translators are absolutely essential to the NHS to ensure that our patients can receive the baseline level of healthcare: communication. Translators in the NHS can go towards easing the experience of being in hospital or using NHS services, as well as provide a cultural bridge for individuals within the NHS that we may not otherwise be able to meet.
References
Lehane, D., Campion, P (2018) Interpreters: why should the NHS provide them? British Journal of General Practice, 68 (677) pp. 564-565.
NHS (2023) NHS in numbers today. NHS. Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/nhsbirthday/about-the-nhs-birthday/nhs-in-numbers-today/ (Accessed 8 November 2024)
ONS (2022) Language, England and Wales: Census 2021. ONS. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/culturalidentity/language/bulletins/languageenglandandwales/census2021#:~:text=Additionally%2C%201.5%25%20(880%2C000),not%20speak%20English%20at%20all. (Accessed 8 November 2024)
ONS (2022) Population estimates for the UK, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland: mid-2021. ONS. Available at: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/populationandmigration/populationestimates/bulletins/annualmidyearpopulationestimates/mid2021#:~:text=4.-,Population%20of%20England%20and%20Wales,56%2C536%2C000%20and%20Wales%20at%203%2C105%2C000. (Accessed 8 November 2024)
Squires, A (2018) Strategies for overcoming language barriers in healthcare. Nursing Management 49(4) pp:20-27
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