Lost in translation.

Danthus · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:50

The NHS spends £64,000 a day on translation services, a report reveals today.

The cost to the taxpayer has risen by 17 per cent since 2007, with more than £23million spent last year.

Experts said huge sums could be saved if hospitals and GP surgeries pooled resources – and warned that translating information for those who do not speak English could encourage segregation.

Following freedom of information requests to every NHS trust, the report states that the Health Service spent £23.3million on written translation and interpreters last year.

Some trusts translated material into 120 languages.

Julia Manning, of 2020Health, the think-tank that conducted the research, said: ‘The costs involved are truly staggering in an age of austerity, and incredible when taken in the context of efficiency savings of £20billion across the Health Service.

What a shocking waste of money.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Costs-rise-hospitals-cater-120-languages.html

TJM · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:52

Yeah, let's stop giving people who don't speak English medical advice. It'll be cheaper when they have to go to A&E.

Threepwood · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:52

Just drink some alcohol slowly, you will soon get over it.

scorza · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:54

I'm not an expert, but I say more money would be saved if no translation services were provided on the nhs. English is the language of this nation, if you're entitled to free treatment on the nhs you probably ought to be able to speak it.

rotters · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:55

OldCoals said:
What a shocking waste of money.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...Costs-rise-hospitals-cater-120-languages.html

so we have your opinion, now what do you propose to do about it?

Destination · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:56

Good luck getting that through Europe Scorza....

rotters · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:56

scorza said:
I'm not an expert, but I say more money would be saved if no translation services were provided on the nhs. English is the language of this nation, if you're entitled to free treatment on the nhs you probably ought to be able to speak it.

holiday makers? would you expect to be outcast if you had an accident abroad in a country where you dont speak the language?

dirtydog · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:57

Immigrants costing the country a fortune shocker!

Danthus · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:58

rotters said:
holiday makers? would you expect to be outcast if you had an accident abroad in a country where you dont speak the language?

I have no problem with tourists requiring translation.

PermaBanned · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:59

It's DM, article has no credibility. Even so, what do you propose to do about it? How are you expected to diagnose a patient if you can't ask them about their symptoms?

rotters · 6 Feb 2012 at 19:59

then your a racist and that is that.

Danthus · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:00

PermaBanned said:
It's DM, article has no credibility. Even so, what do you propose to do about it? How are you expected to diagnose a patient if you can't ask them about their symptoms?

The DM didn't commission the report though did they.

Still it is easier to lambaste the DM and me rather than debate the issue.

Danthus · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:01

rotters said:
then your a racist and that is that.

I am a racist, why?

PermaBanned · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:02

OldCoals said:
The DM didn't commission the report though did they.

Still it is easier to lambaste the DM and me rather than debate the issue.

I don't know, i try not to dirty my browsing history with such things.

Danthus · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:03

PermaBanned said:
I don't know, i try not to dirty my browsing history with such things.

So purely based on the perception of the newspaper you formed your opinion.

kalvindeane · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:03

PermaBanned said:
I don't know, i try not to dirty my browsing history with such things.

TJM · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:04

PermaBanned said:
It's DM, article has no credibility. Even so, what do you propose to do about it? How are you expected to diagnose a patient if you can't ask them about their symptoms?

Or ask them to consent to treatment.

Maybe surgeons should just point scalpels at them and say 'ME-DI-CINE' loudly and slowly.

mollymoo · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:05

Why can't the NHS just charge for translations, tourists could maybe have this as part of their travel insurance. If you are a citizen and you can't communicate your symptoms then maybe a nominal fee for a translation can be paid via a translation insurance, just till you learn the language. It saves the NHS a bit of money, which sounds good to me.

rotters · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:08

because to be able to communicate is a fundamental right. waiting for a translation insurance broker to get a translator to an emergency department just wouldnt work.

not that the current system is super speedy atm...its needs a vast overhaul.

PermaBanned · 6 Feb 2012 at 20:08

OldCoals said:
So purely based on the perception of the newspaper you formed your opinion.

Yup. Well, that and my prior knowledge of you

mollymoo said:
Why can't the NHS just charge for translations, tourists could maybe have this as part of their travel insurance. If you are a citizen and you can't communicate your symptoms then maybe a nominal fee for a translation can be paid via a translation insurance, just till you learn the language. It saves the NHS a bit of money, which sounds good to me.

Except it probably wouldn't save any money due to the administration costs of such a system and goes completely against the basic principles that make the NHS so valuable in the first place.