to think that people that have been in the UK for a while DONT need translaters?

[porcamiseria]

I am NOT referring to people that have recently moved here, or have come as aylum seekers.

I also reserve similar vitriol when I see programmes about people who haved moved to Spain and it all goes tits up with their house, and they are there SPEAKING ENGLISH, gah

However yesterday I saw a woman in the maternity waiting room, and she arrived and got immediately greeted by her translater, which obviously the NHS are providing

She had a toddler with her, and I overheard the translater say this was her second birth at the hospital in question

so why the fuck has she not learnt English since then? she was nicely dressed etc, so in no way was she destitute

I told DP and he told me to "stop being so English" but I think that people whoever they are should learn the bloody language if they want to make a life and family here

anyway I am going to get flamed now....

I'm not saying we should never provide interpreters, nor that they should never be free. Of course we should not restrict access this way.

But the extent to which we currently provide alternative language provision reduces any incentive for self-improvement.

Perhaps the money that currently goes into alternative language provision should instead be used for English language tuition.

How about English lessons at the baby weighing clinic?

And, yes, people should be encouraged to provide their own interpreters - that service should be reserved for those in need, like asylum seekers who have only been in the country for a short time, visitors, or situations where all concerned agree that one is necessary. My mum interpreted many times at medical appointments, if it was beyond her abilities then a real interpreter would be found.

I'm sorry but I have very little sympathy for people who have lived in the UK for several years but have not made the effort to learn the language.

I'm Jewish. Every member of my extended family who survived or escaped the Holocaust emigrated, mostly as adults, and almost all of them under very tough circumstances. All of them learned the language of their new country as soon as possible. Even the elderly learned enough for day-to-day conversation.

Porcamiseria I think It's quite amusing that you are so angry about someone not being able to speak a foreign language when you can't even spell in your own !

I work in a hospital, translators cost £40/hour, even if they are only there for 10 mins we have to pay for an hour. Apparently we spent £250,000 last year on translators. Whatever your opinion on whether they should or should not be provided, that's a lot of money that could have been used for a lot of other things.

Re the comments about patients bringing family members to translate.
I hate this. I have had young children trying to explain their mother's period problems and grown men too embarrassed to tell me about their wife's gynae issues because I was a woman.

A colleague who knows a small amount of Arabic explained to a patient in detail the risks involved in the major leg surgey he was about to have, including blood clots, infections and death, in order to ensure he was getting informed consent. He then heard the "interpreter" tell the patient "You have to have the operation, God willing it will turn out fine."

I have reasonable French, German and BSL - I could hold a conversation, ask for directions, order a meal etc. I could not tell you that I was coughing up green phlegm and had a barking cough or that I was suffering from colicky abdominal pain and passing blood and mucus in my stools.

So yes I agree that learning English is a must for migrants but that providing professional interpreters will have to continue to be seen as a priority.

It was not uncommon in our community clinic for women to have 'male family members' accompany them to clinic to prevent them from sharing about domestic violence.