Should The Nhs Be Spending £100M So As To Provide Free Translators?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/756977/NHS-spends-100-million-on-TRANSLATORS-in-128-languages

[Togo]

Webbo and Baldric carefully and quietly nail down the NHS "problem" . Notice the absence of histrionics.

[THECORBYLOON]

NJ, I had a quick look and interpreters are provided free of charge for health services in Queensland and Massachusetts , it may also apply in other states' services too.

[Baldric]

How the heck does that equate with NHS spending?

[THECORBYLOON]

I didn't say it did. NJ said, "I'm puzzled as to why it seems to be only the UK that provides services such as this free of charge" and I gave examples where other health services do provide it free.

[Baldric]

Had to travel a bit though didn't you?

[Togo]

Haha is Corblimey posting in the US of Americant as well ?

[THECORBYLOON]

"The efforts of hospital interpreters ensure that underserved patients have equal access to healthcare regardless of language, background or immigration status. In fact, federal law requires hospitals that receive Medicare, Medicaid and other government funds to provide interpretation services free of charge. Research shows that the use of trained interpreters (instead of family members or bilingual staff) results in more accurate interpretation for patients, thereby increasing overall satisfaction with their care." Appears to be the case in the whole of America after all.

[THECORBYLOON]

It's also free in the ROI.

[Togo]

//It's also free in the ROI. //

Wow you say it is, so it must be true. Now tell us how many languages are funded for free translation in Ireland? You must know..... you wouldn't have said it otherwise. Making it up aren't you?

[Baldric]

@ 1935

/// In fact, federal law requires hospitals that receive Medicare, Medicaid and other government funds to provide interpretation services free of charge///

I didn't realise the NHS stretched that far afield tbh.

[THECORBYLOON]

Why should I know how many languages are funded in the ROI?

"Staff should let patients know that they have the
right to an interpreter to assist in communication.
It should be made clear that there is no cost
to the patient and that staff will arrange for the
interpreter (the patient does not have to do this).
The patient can use or refuse the assigned
interpreter."


https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/publications/SocialInclusion/emaspeaking.pdf&ved=0ahUKEwir27ebhNTRAhXnI8AKHRY8BoYQFggjMAM&usg=AFQjCNFHnTm34UsOODmFziI12LcWppms3A&;sig2=wCn60aCNdd6lthzhiYj8AA

[Deskdiary]

THECORBYLOON quotes New Judge but appears to have missed the word "seems" in the NJs post.

[THECORBYLOON]

Without giving examples, how would NJ have been any the wiser? TOGO did not believe me but I have quoted the extract on which my ROI post was based and a link to the document in case he thinks I fabricated the extract too.

[Togo]

It is called false representation anywhere else in the World but the space between Corbyloonies ears Deskdiary, best not go there really.

[THECORBYLOON]

Which part of my answer about the ROI was made up?

[Oldred]

I'm not convinced that the provision of free translators in Australia, USA or ROI is relevant to the situation in the NHS.

I don't know details of the position in the USA but I do know that my cousin who has lived in Australia (NSW) for a number of years has to pay for visits to a GP.

As for ROI

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Healthcare_in_the_Republic_of_Ireland)

if what I read there is correct, -

"People who are not entitled to a Medical Card (i.e. 68.1% of the population) must pay fees for certain health care services. There is a €100 A&E charge for those who attend an accident and emergency department without a referral letter from a family doctor (a visit to which usually costs €45–75, though some practices offer rates as low as €25-35 for over-65s and students[4]). Hospital charges (for inpatients) are a flat fee of €75 per day up to a maximum of €750 in any twelve-month period, irrespective of the actual care received."

The provision of a free translator doesn't seem too significant in the overall scheme of things so can't really be used to discredit the NHS. (Anyway, perhaps it's just to make sure that patients know exactly how much they owe.)

We take as much care as we possibly can to ensure that medically qualified employees of the NHS can communicate effectively in English.

Patients who require assistance in doing the same should be prepared to pay for the service.

[Togo]

Bet you could not get a free Urdu translator in Ireland, Australia or US. To say nothing of the other 20 odd languages that the NHS funds on our behalf.

[THECORBYLOON]

Sorry but which bit had I made up?

[THECORBYLOON]

From the HSE ( the Irish Health Service Executive) site "Emergency Multilingual Aid - assists health staff to communicate more effectively with patients. It is intended for use prior to requesting the services of an interpreter or while awaiting the interpreter's arrival. This is available in Arbic, Bosnian, Cantonese, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Irish, Latvian, Lithuanian, Mandarin, Pashtu, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Somali, and Urdu."

Oh look, they do do Urdu!