Expert translation is key for patient care

English isn’t the first language for one in ten UK residents, rising to one in five in London and other densely populated areas.* With this trend expected to continue and international migration projected to account for three-quarters of UK population growth, the NHS faces increased challenges when it comes to patient communication.*ONS

Specialist human translation can bridge the language gap, ensuring all patients receive clear communication and appropriate medical care.

Providing benefits for all

Specialist and professional human translation provides a number of benefits for NHS teams:

• Increase understanding: Accurate information provided in the patient’s mother tongue can help reduce reliance on relatives, who may not understand the intricacies and consequences of the healthcare treatment.
• Build patient trust: Clear communication in a language they understand encourages patients to follow medical advice, use services and be less influenced by misinformation.
• Improve accessibility: Remove language barriers to ensure equal access for all patients regardless of language, promoting inclusivity in the development and understanding of treatment plans.
• Support legal obligations: Comply with the Equality Act 2010 by providing translation services to ensure patients fully understand their options and can give informed consent to medical treatment.

Select the right translation partner

The ideal translation agency will provide mother-tongue linguists with extensive experience of working with the NHS and specialist knowledge of complex medical terminology. Look for agencies that provide additional services, such as multilingual desktop publishing for print-ready patient information.

Work with the experts

The Language Factory has been providing language services to NHS Trusts and Integrated Care Boards around the UK since 1992. Our specialist Project Managers understand the importance of our clients’ time and address any issues along the way to ensure a smooth, straightforward process.  

We also provide additional language support, including multilingual desktop publishing, to ensure that your translated document format maintains the integrity of the original. It’s a useful solution to the problem of translating ‘ready to print’ leaflets and posters, making sure that they fit the template or design once translated. We work with full packages from InDesign and are able to liaise directly with the original designer of the file to ensure a smooth service.

Contact our team to discuss how we can help with your next NHS translation project.