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