I would like to request that the following questions be answered, or documents containing the answers to the following questions, for the last year/12 months held:

• What are the recorded preferential languages for patients requiring services ranging from most to least?

Mirpuri (spoken dialect), Sylheti (spoken dialect), British Sign Language, Romanian , Arabic, Punjabi, Urdu, Pashto, Polish, Somali, French, Kurdish, Mandarin, Gujrati, Cantonese, Lithuanian, Farsi, Czech, Sorani, Dutch, Hungarian, Portugese, Russain, Spanish and Tigrinian

• Is dialect or region of spoken language of the person accessing services recorded during registration?

Yes it would be recorded if it has been identified by patient/carer or GP.

Regarding translation (written services)

1. What types of written documents are translated?

Patient information documents related to treatments, procedures, patient notes and department notices

2. In which languages are documents translated listed from highest to least?

Urdu, Bengali, Spanish, German and Italian

3. Do these languages include Cornish, Gaelic, Welsh or Irish?

No requests for above languages have been received

4. Who carries out the translations?

The Trust interpreting team translate in Urdu and Bengali languages and for all other languages

Trust has a contract with Word360 for translation services.

5. Generally, are any documents translated consistently throughout the year?

See Q1 response

6. Generally, are any documents translated on an ad-hoc basis?

Patient notes

7. Do you provide written translations in braille?

On request braille written translation can be provided

8. If yes, which documents and are any of these translations carried out consistently?

No requests have been received for braille written translation.

9. Are any carried out on an ad-hoc basis? 

No

10. Who carries out the translations?

Word360 would provide braille written translation service.

11. Do you provide any other translation for the blind?

Touch sign interpreting or audio translation can be provided.

12. Do you provide translations in the form of audio-description?

Audio translations can be provided on request. This service has not been requested

13. If yes, which documents and are any of these translations carried out consistently?

Not applicable

14. Are any carried out on an ad-hoc basis? 

Not applicable

15. Who carries out the translations?

Word360 would provide audio translations

16. Is there a minimum criteria for translators who carry out translation tasks?

Competency and skills in written and spoken language at A-Levels standard

17. Is proof required for any qualifications of translators?

Yes.

18. Is any translation done in-house? If yes, which documents?

No

19. Is any translation out-sourced? If yes, which documents?

See Q1 and Q4 responses

20. Do staff ever translate (written), if yes in which contexts?

Trust staffs are not used to produce written translations

21. Do medical staffs ever provide sight translation?

Trust staffs are not used for sight translation.

22. How long after the initial request for translation should the documents be completed/delivered?

Emergency/short notice: 24 to 48 hours, non- emergency: up to 10 working days.

23. In how many languages is the NHS website available? Which languages are they?

HEFT Website is currently only available in English language

24. How is the website translated?

Not applicable

25. In how many languages is the online system used to book primary appointments? Which languages?

Patient appointments are only booked in English language.

26. Can children provide translations or sight translations? If yes, when?

No. the Trust interpreting policy clearly states that children under the age of 18 cannot be used for interpreting/translation purposes.