The background and imperative to improve communication are well summarised1 but I think that the chief reason why interpreting services are underused is clear. As a GP in a practice where about 50% of our patients do not have English as a first language, I see it overwhelmingly as a matter of time. Good translation will improve both the quality of transactions and medical care, but inevitably takes longer. Suggestions that such improvements will ultimately save time belong with the belief that demand would fall once needs were met, which was thought likely when the NHS was founded.
We already find it impossible to recruit enough clinical staff and only last week we turned down an appointment request from a patient with undiagnosed new-onset type 1 diabetes with DKA. I cannot offer best-practice services to more than a small fraction of those who need them. Of course, we could do with additional resources but there also need to be some imaginative responses. Perhaps we could look at helping people prepare better for their consultations so that priorities and expectations are considered beforehand. There is already guidance about this on the NHS website, but it is probably most used by middle-class patients who speak fluent English where communication barriers are fewest. Making serious efforts to help those with the greatest difficulties could be a useful step.
- © British Journal of General Practice 2022
