We offer both – whilst telephone interpreting is a lower cost, there will always be situations (complex appointments, etc) where there is a need for face to face.  We are doing a piece of work at the moment around the ‘appropriate’ use of interpreters.  For example, staff need to be aware of the costs of booking face to face for simple appointments but not be discouraged from using face to face where appropriate.

I forwarded your message to a GP practising in Lewisham, and he tells me that Lewisham PCT offer telephone interpreting only.

Nafsika Thalassis

This group might be interested in the IMIA Guide on Telephone Interpreting, available at http://www.imiaweb.org/basic/TelGuide.asp

From: Health of minority ethnic communities in the UK [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Devlin Alison (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust)
Sent: Wednesday, May 19, 2010 10:50 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Telephone interpreting

The ambulance trusts are predominantly telephone based interpreting services because of the call centre element is telephone-based anyway but also because the clinical staff on the scene need an interpreter immediately so (in the London Ambulance Service anyway), use a mobile telephone and pass it between themselves and the patient.

Dear all

There was some conversation around telephone interpreting in November last year. One of the contributions seemed to suggest in some areas there was a move away from face to face toward telephone services. Is anyone aware of any Trusts or Boards that have moved exclusively or predominantly to telephone interpreting?

Jim

Jim Robinson
Equality and Health Improvement Facilitator
Lothian University Hospitals

Office Address:
The Bungalow
Community Child Health
10 Chalmers Crescent
Edinburgh
EH9 1TS

Tel +44 (0) 131 536 0055

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