Abstract
Background: Language is a social determinant of health, as constituted by the World Health Organisation (WHO) back in 1948. UK migration rates have risen exponentially recently, and with it the inability for patients to speak functional English is a growing concern. Poorer health information and avoidance of service use creates fundamental health inequity within this demographic. The UK’s ever-changing sociodemographic landscape necessitates a growing focus on health outcomes within non-English speaking patients.
Aim: To explore the barriers towards interpreter service use within South Yorkshire and how to improve communication with non-English speaking patients.
Method: Data was collected in a mixed quantitative-qualitative approach. A yes/no approach was adopted to answer the study objectives (ie., whether family members had translated on behalf of relatives or if interpreter service use was documented). Observational comments from the notes were used to contextualise the data for further discussion. This was compared to available UK guidelines.
Findings: There was a widespread reliance on family members to interpret on patients’ behalf, seen in 75% of non-English speaking patients on the sampled wards. Only 50% of these patients had documented use of interpreter phone lines across the wards, significantly below the audit’s standards.
Discussion: Barriers to interpreter services may be attributed to inefficiencies within its online nature, including queues and connectivity issues. This discourages its uptake, especially in the face of increasing hospital pressures. The high reliance on family members requires ethical considerations. These include issues with confidentiality, poor safety netting and disjointed communication of diagnoses when family members are used to translate. Ultimately, reliance on family members should be actively discouraged. This project recommends a language assessment tool and identification charts to guide NHS staff to appropriate interpreter services, preventing care delays.