PQs: 25 January 2024

https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?d=2024-01-25

House of Lords debates

Thursday, 25 January 2024

Baroness Watkins of Tavistock Deputy Chairman of Committes 12:48, 25 January 2024

[…] It is necessary to think seriously about access to interpreters on a 24-hour rota system, so that women who are unable to speak or understand English because it is not their first language can be assisted in communicating with the staff caring for them. We have situations in some areas in which it is impossible to get an interpreter. That makes the situation really difficult, both for the midwives and for the mother. One cannot always rely ad hoc on a relation interpreting what is really going on. Can the Minister comment on how access to interpreters is monitored within the NHS and, if this is not being undertaken, can he ask the Government to make provision to do so? I have been informed that this is particularly important in genetic counselling in families from cultures that are different from those of the midwives involved. […]

Lord Allan of Hallam Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Health) 1:51, 25 January 2024

[…] Self-help access to information about your own care is critical; it can also be a benefit with language issues, as providing translation and interpretation at scale can often be done more effectively when enabled by technology than if you are reliant on getting somebody with a particular language to a particular location at a certain time. […]