Translation and Interpreting Services
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As part of our pledge to patients, Bedfordshire Hospitals is committed to ensuring that there is effective communication with staff and carers.
Effective patient care depends upon the accurate exchange of information.
The Trust provides a range of interpreter and translator services for those people whose main language is not English or who may have a disability which affects communication. This includes:
- Authorised Translation Service
- Link workers (Women’s Unit)
- Learning Disability Resource Folder
- Taped and large print leaflets (on request)
Our Authorised Translation Service should always be used for medical consultations and formal interviews.
Telephone Interpreter Service
Our Translation and Interpretation Service offers a telephone-based service, which allows immediate access to an interpreter 24 hours a day.
Face-to-face interpreter and translation service
Face-to-face interpreters and translators should be booked in advance. If you are an outpatient we recommend booking two weeks in advance.
Please contact the department to arrange an interpreter and if you have difficulty doing this then please contact PALS.
- For the Luton and Dunstable University Hospital call: 01582 497990
- For Bedford Hospital call: 01234 795814
We request that patients’ relatives do not act as interpreters for the patient. A non-independent interpreter may influence or bias information given by health professionals. A friend or relative may have conflicting interests with the patient, and staff have no way of knowing the quality of the interpreting. If a patient wishes to use a friend or relative to interpret, the patient will still be offered the choice of a professional interpreter.
Patients are strongly discouraged from bringing children under 16 to as interpreters due to the serious nature of the responsibility. Staff will only ask a child to gain basic information in the case of an emergency.
British Sign Language (BSL)
British Sign Language (BSL) is available upon request, please contact the department to arrange this and if you have difficulty doing this then please contact PALS.
BSL interpreters generally need to be requested at least 2 weeks in advance so please let us know as soon as possible if you require a BSL interpreter.
Low Vision Support Services
These services are available to both patients and visitors to the L&D. These include printing documents in larger font sizes (including leaflets), the welcome of assistance dogs and guidance on their use in clinical areas. For further support and information on Low Vision Services please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 01582 497990.