Gaston highlights ‘eye watering’ cost of interpreters for health service in NI

https://www.loveballymena.online/post/gaston-highlights-eye-watering-cost-of-interpreters-for-health-service-in-ni

17^th August 2024

Gaston highlights ‘eye watering’ cost of interpreters for health service in NI

North Antrim MLA Timothy Gaston has commented on the soaring costs of interpreter services to Northern Ireland’s health service.

According to figures provided to Mr Gaston by Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, the cost of providing interpreters across Northern Ireland’s health trusts over the last five years has amounted to over £18 million - described by the TUV MLA as ‘eye watering’.

Commenting on the issue, Gaston said:

“There are many who seek to dismiss legitimate concerns the public have about the issues caused by migration and particularly the strain which it places on services. Indeed, when I raised the issue during the recent Assembly recall debate the establishment parties sought to shout me down.

“When those voices subside, however, the facts which they seek to ignore remain.

“One such issue is the cost of interpreters in the NHS in relation to dentistry, GP services and access to hospitals.

“I wrote to the Health Minister asking for a breakdown of these costs and the response is frankly eye watering.

“In 2019/2020 we spent £4,092,031, £2,111,123 in 2020/21, £3,415,013 in 2021/2022, £4,147,139 in 2022/2023 and £4,425,608 in 2023/24.

“Over the last five years that totals over £18 million.

“Tellingly, the Minister did not answer my question about how much of that was due to missed appointments as the Department does not hold the data. Mr Nesbit does, however, advise that in such circumstances the interpreter is paid for the first hour and has their mileage covered.

“A band five nurse at the lower end of the scale is paid around £28,407 per annum meaning that we could employ over 150 band five nurses every year with the money spent on interpreters every year.”

The Northern Trust states it “has a diverse population and all our service users and carers have a right to effective communication, in a form and language, that enables them to understand the information provided. This includes the right to an appropriately qualified interpreter. We are committed to ensuring that people understand the treatment and support options available.”

"efforts were being made to find an interpreter"

https://www.edp24.co.uk/news/24518299.great-yarmouth-men-jointly-charged-rape-woman/

15^th August 2024

[…] His defence solicitors said they had been unable to take full instructions due to language difficulties and said there was no indication of a plea.

He was given unconditional bail after prosecutor Holly Postle said the language difficulties meant he would be unable to understand any conditions. […]

Rob New, representing him, said efforts were being made to find an interpreter in Tetum, a language spoken on the island of Timor.

Magistrates adjourned his case until August 21.

'No appropriate interpreter service'

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq5xnv0zlqgo

15 August 2024

'No appropriate interpreter service'

[…] Israel Eguaogia highlighted two cases of patients who have died after finding out their cancer had spread and it was too late for medical intervention.

"A big challenge is the language barrier, and we are asking for more interpreters so we can mitigate these challenges," he said.

One recurring theme among those he represents is a sense of not being taken seriously or a feeling of being "prejudiced".

He said there was not an appropriate interpreter service to help them understand their diagnosis or what they are going through.

iAssist-Ni said while there were some interpreters in the system, there were not enough and Mr Eguaogia called on the Department of Health to provide more.

He recalled one incident where a woman was about to be discharged from hospital without understanding the implications of her diagnosis and available care until his organisation intervened.

In a different part of Belfast, Amanda Suka, 43, is living with stage four cancer.

Amanda came to Northern Ireland in 2006, but developed breast cancer and was successfully treated in the South Eastern Health Trust.

While Amanda said her treatment for breast cancer was "excellent", she said if patients had language difficulties, an interpreter must be present throughout their journey in hospital.

Amanda is now terminally ill after her cancer spread.

She told BBC News NI that there were a few times when the health system let her down due to what she says were "language barriers".

While she did not request an interpreter when asked on a form, Ms Suka said other patients need to completely understand what consultants are telling them - as it could be a matter of life and death.

She said others often feel embarrassed about asking for an interpreter and when they turn up at the hospital it is too late to have one present. […]

The Department of Health said there was a commitment to making service improvements and welcoming all feedback, said the department.

In the past year, the interpreter service fulfilled 97% of 130,000 requests and received a £4.8m investment.

The free service has about 450 trained interpreters who cover 37 different languages.

The department said last year it had responded to 93% of emergency interpreter requests within one hour.

Neither of the health trusts involved wished to comment, when contacted by BBC News NI.