The Department of Health and the British Medical Association recommend that interpretation services be provided for those accessing health care services. A number of organisations provide interpretation services to the public sector.

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BMA:

Access to Health Care for Asylum Seekers - guidance notes,

2001

This BMA briefing recommends that on arrival in the UK asylum seekers should be provided with information in a language they understand about access to health care, social services and how to register with a doctor.

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Language Line

Language Line provides over-the-phone interpreting and translation to subscribers in the public sector. They offer 24-hour access to qualified interpreters in over 100 languages. Language Line staff will check whether health professionals are covered by a subscription to the service when you ring. Tel: 020 7520 1430.

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NHS Direct

NHS Direct can provide confidential interpreters, in many languages, within minutes of a call. All you need to do is state in English the language you would prefer to use. Tel: 0845 4647.

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Translation services:

Detained - SSI inspection of compulsory mental health admissions 2001

These guidelines from the Social Services Inspectorate at the Department of Health recommend professional translation services for non-English speaking clients who are detained under the 1983 Mental Health Act.

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