Guideline 9: Family carers as interpreters
7 out of 10Specific strategies
Advocate use of professional interpretation services, particularly during key consultations (e.g. treatment discussions, delivering bad news)
- Try to identify patients with limited English language proficiency or severe/profound hearing loss prior to the initial consultation. 25,56
- Advocate for the use of a professional interpreter as soon as the need is identified .57
To patient with limited English
“[Patient] I would like to use an interpreter over the telephone, rather than relying on [family] to do this. This means that [family] will be free to listen, ask questions, and support you. Would that be ok?”
To family carer
“Whilst I appreciate you helping [patient] by translating, I’d like to suggest that instead, we use a professional interpreter over the telephone. This is a free and confidential service where interpreters trained in medical terminology can interpret what I am saying. By using a professional interpreter, it also means that you will be able to concentrate on understanding the information, and you will be more able to ask questions and support [patient]. Does that sound alright?”
- Respectfully elicit from the patient and family carers their reasons for preferring non-engagement with professional interpreters and attempt to address them.
“Are there any particular reasons why you don’t want to use an interpreter?"
- Attempt to address the reasons for not using an interpreter. 58
OVERALL COMPLETION
