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Posted on24 June 2025

Why Professional Interpreters Are Essential in UK Healthcare: NHS Best Practice Guidance

By Rachel Lambert | rachellambert.biz | Copy & Content | White Papers | Case Studies

Rachel Lambert

There’s no room for confusion in healthcare. Whether it’s a routine check-up or a life-changing diagnosis, clear communication is the thread that ties together effective and compassionate medical care. But what about those who speak little or no English? If language is a barrier, it turns into more than just an inconvenience for them.

Miscommunication in medical settings can lead to incorrect treatments, breaches of confidentiality, and increased anxiety for patients and staff alike. That’s why NHS England and NHS Scotland have issued clear guidance: when there’s a language barrier, professional interpreters with healthcare expertise must be used.

Let’s break down why this matters and how organisations like Atlas Translations help make it happen.

What do you need help with today? Call us on +44 (0)1727 812 725 or email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk – we’re only a call, chat, or email away!

Why Professional Interpreters (Not Friends or Family) Are a Must

It might seem practical, maybe even kind, to ask a bilingual family member to step in and interpret for a patient or client. But this quick fix comes with significant risks:

Compromised Confidentiality

People may not feel comfortable discussing sensitive medical issues with someone they know, especially when it involves mental health, domestic abuse, or having “that” conversation about your sex life in front of your Mum.

Misinterpreting Managed

Untrained interpreters can easily misinterpret medical terminology or gloss over key details, even with the best intentions. This can manifest itself in many ways, but “I don’t know what that word means, and I don’t want to look uneducated, so I’ll leave it out” can be one of them.

Click here to read more about the face-to-face, video remote, and on-demand interpreting services that we provide at Atlas Translations.

Baked-in Bias

Friends or family members might verbally edit what’s being said (consciously or otherwise), which can negatively affect clinical decision-making.

In contrast, professional interpreters with healthcare experience are trained in medical terminology, ethics, and impartiality. They help patients express themselves clearly and help clinicians deliver safe, accurate care.

happy customer quote from atlas translations client NHS

NHS Guidance: What England and Scotland Say

Throughout the guidance provided by both NHS England and NHS Scotland, they emphasise the legal and ethical responsibility to offer interpreting services when needed.

The guidance, found here, covers more than just ticking boxes. It discusses:

  • Protecting patients’ rights
  • Maintaining clinical standards
  • Avoiding serious errors in care
  • Creating an inclusive healthcare environment

Healthcare providers are expected to proactively assess language needs and make interpreting services available. It’s not optional; it’s essential.

How Atlas Translations Supports the Healthcare Sector

At Atlas Translations, we work with healthcare professionals across the UK to make sure language doesn’t get in the way of delivering excellent care.

Here’s what makes us a trusted choice:

  • Sector-specific expertise: Our interpreters possess in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector, including specialised terminology, nomenclature, and areas of expertise such as cardiology and cancer care.
  • Confidential and compliant: We meet stringent privacy and ISO standards, aligning with NHS protocols.
  • Flexible formats: Whether it’s face-to-face, over the phone, or via video, we can tailor the service to fit your needs.

By working with Atlas, healthcare providers can confidently meet NHS guidance while giving every patient a voice.

happy customer quote from atlas translations client east of england local government association

Quick Tips: Language Support for Healthcare Providers

Here’s a quick checklist for some ideas on how healthcare providers can take the lead on providing language support to their patients:

✅ Identify language needs early – Ideally at the time of referral or appointment booking.

✅ Book a professional interpreter in advance – Planning helps avoid last-minute scrambling and delays.

✅ Avoid using children or untrained adults – It might seem helpful in the moment, but it risks miscommunication and legal issues.

✅ Use remote interpreting when needed – Video or telephone interpreting can be a fast, practical, and secure alternative.

✅ Document the use of interpreting services – Not just for recordkeeping, but to track patient support and maintain compliance.

These steps help protect both patients and healthcare staff while setting a high standard of care.

It’s a Wrap!

Our final thought is that clear language equals better care. Language should never be a barrier to health, safety, or dignity. By choosing professional interpreters and following NHS guidance, healthcare providers show that they value every patient’s right to be heard and understood.

For reliable and experienced sector-specific interpreting services, Atlas Translations helps bridge the language gap, so healthcare professionals can focus on what they do best: delivering excellent care.

Contact Us

We’d love for you to contact Atlas Translations! We’re always here for a chat or to answer questions!

Call us on +44 (0)1727 812 725 or email us at team@atlas-translations.co.uk to let us know what you need. We respond quickly to all enquiries!

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The A-Team (l to r: Steffi, Rhys, Clare, Joanna, Jim, and Anna—not shown is our Amy)

If you’d like to meet us face to face, learn more about our translation and language services, or deliver documents, please email or call us ahead of time to arrange a meeting.

Use the Live Chat option during UK working hours to ask us any questions. You’ll chat with a real, live human—we’re a bot-free zone! Just click the little icon at the bottom right of your screen to start chatting with us.

If you need a quick quote, we have a handy GET A QUOTE button located at the top of our website, where you can get an estimate for your needs.

Can I Trust Atlas Translations?

Yes, you can! But if you’re after something with a little more “facts and figures”, here’s some info:

Atlas Translations holds two ISO certifications: ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management) and ISO 17100:2017 (Translation Services).

If the project is highly confidential, we can sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) for added peace of mind.

Are we up to date on privacy? Well, thank you for asking, and yes, we are! We registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) over 20 years ago and have always placed a high importance on data protection.

You can read more about our commitment to quality here.

Atlas Translations takes pride in providing fast, friendly, and high-quality language services. But don’t just take our word for it—see what our clients are saying about us.

We’re also on TrustPilot, and you can read our reviews here.

Global Voice, Local Touch

If you’re looking for some top tips for partnering with Atlas Translations, we have some top tips to share! We answer 25 of our clients’ most frequently asked questions, ranging from typesetting queries to discussing reference materials.

Click to download Global Voice, Local Touch

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Corporate membership of the ITI (Institute of Translation and Interpreting) since 1994. Corporate Member of the Year 2021. ITI is the only UK-based independent professional membership association for practising translators, interpreters and all those involved in the language services sector.

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