An Translated NHS Example Document

The NHS spends £64,000 a day on translation services, a report has found.

The health service spent £23 million last year on translators and interpreters, an increase of 17% since '07.

Experts said vast sums could be saved if local GP practices and surgerys worked with local hospital to pool and share resources, and warned that providing a translation service for those who do not speak English could encourage segregation.

The high costs are hardly to be unexpected when some NHS trusts translate material into upto 120 languages.

"The costs involved are truly staggering in an age of autseterity, and incredible when taken in the context of efficiency savings of £20bn across the Health Service," said Julia Manning, of 2020Health, the think tank which conducted the research.

"Urgent action must be taken by trusts to stem the flow of translation costs, and our report sets out a number of recommendations that would do exactly that without altering the level of care given."

Emma Boon, campaign director of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said: "Taxpayers will be shocked that so much is being spent on translation and interpretation in the NHS."

"They expect their money to be going towards treatment for sick people, not on language services."

"It is even more worrying that some trusts cannot provide a breakdown of what this is costing them; this shows a worrying lack of control over finances."

"There will always be a need for some interpretation, for example if people visiting the UK get sick and need emergency treatment."

"But those who live in Britain should make an effort to learn to speak English so that they are not burdening services like the NHS with ongoing costs for translation."

Monday February 6^th 2012
The Onlines