Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Response to correspondence dated 6 May 2015
Request: Language Interpreters
Applicant: Media
Reference: IGTFOISA2017
NHS Tayside has now considered your request dated 6 May 2015.
Extract from Request
“How much money was spent on language translators by NHS Tayside in each of the
last two years, broken down year on year?
To give an example of when a language translator would be used by NHS Tayside?”
You clarified your request as follows:
“Face to face language”
Response
Please find information below surrounding the cost of providing face to face language
interpretation within NHS Tayside for the past two years.
NHS Tayside
Face to face language interpretation
Financial Year
2013/14
£175,067
£68,598
£243,665
Expenditure
British Sign Language
Total
2014/15
£257,082
£87,033
£344,115
“NHS Tayside recognises that there are some people who cannot speak, communicate
or read English, are profoundly deaf or deafblind. Communication should not be a
barrier to accessing services or communicating with staff that work within the health
care service. The provision of Interpretation and Translation Services is essential to
enable patients, carers and families or friends to communicate effectively, and enables
patients and staff to access services and information fairly and equitably.
Many people have a disability in relation to a sensory impairment / loss such as being
deaf or deafblind, or those who cannot speak, fully understand, read or communicate in
English. All staff have a legal duty to make “reasonable adjustments” for their patients,
families, carers and relatives, or friends. This means that NHS Tayside must make sure
that any additional communication needs are met by providing interpretation or
translation to meet an identified communication need, or when requested by a patient,
family member, carer or relative or friend. This will meet the legal duty to:
Eliminate discrimination, harassment or victimisation.
Improve equality of opportunity by
- removing/minimising disadvantage
- meeting the needs of particular groups that are different from the needs of
others.
- fostering good relations between people with protected characteristics
NHS Tayside
IGTFOISA2017 Response
Page 1 of 3
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Response to correspondence dated 6 May 2015
Request: Language Interpreters
Applicant: Media
Reference: IGTFOISA2017
In order to pay due regard to this legal duty NHS Tayside will:
Provide an interpretation and translation service
Ensure staff are provided with information to enable them to respond to individual
requests/needs for interpretation and/or translation when providing services for people
who cannot communicate in English, or read English, including profoundly deaf or
deafblind people.
Ensure that all staff are aware of how to access interpretation and translation services
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Encourage and enable all patients to receive information in a language that is
understood, when the patient cannot communicate in English, are profoundly deaf or
deafblind, by being given access to and use of appropriate interpreting or translation
services.
There are four types of interpretation service provide by NHS Tayside for people who
cannot communicate in English, or read English, including profoundly deaf or deafblind:
i. Telephone interpretation service (excluding BSL users)
ii. Registered interpreter for face-to-face interpretation from an approved partner (under
a service level agreement with Scottish Association for Sign Language Interpretation)
iii. Profoundly Deaf (BSL) Interpretation Service from an approved partner (under a
service level agreement)
iv. Guide communicators”
If you are unhappy with the level of service you have received from NHS Tayside in
relation to your request for information, you may ask for an internal review.
A request for review must be made in writing no later than forty working days from
receipt of this response and addressed to:
Tayside NHS Board Secretary
Tayside NHS Board Headquarters,
Ninewells Hospital & Medical School,
DUNDEE,
DD1 9SY
If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have the right to apply
directly to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision. The Scottish
Information Commissioner can be contacted at:
Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle,
Doubledykes Road,
ST ANDREWS,
Fife,
KY16 9DS
NHS Tayside
IGTFOISA2017 Response
Page 2 of 3
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
Response to correspondence dated 6 May 2015
Request: Language Interpreters
Applicant: Media
Reference: IGTFOISA2017
If you have any queries about this correspondence, please contact:
Alison Dailly
Information Governance Officer,
Maryfield House,
30 Mains Loan,
Dundee,
DD4 7BT
e-mail: [email protected]
Telephone - 01382 740074 Ext 70203
Exemptions Section – application of Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002
exemptions and Data Protection Act 1998 principles.
Document Ref.
FOISA Exemption Applied
Justification
IGTFOISA2017
None
None
Alison Dailly, Information Governance Officer, NHS Tayside
3 June 2015
NHS Tayside
IGTFOISA2017 Response
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