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NHS Spends £80 Million on Translators for Non-English Speaking Patients

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Since 2020, health authorities have invested nearly £80 million in language and translation services for patients who do not speak English.

The numbers follow revelations from last month indicating that the Department for Work and Pensions was expending £8 million each year on interpreters across 90 distinct languages.

In the last five years, over 300 translation contracts valued at £403 million have been distributed throughout the public sector, including awards from the Ministry of Justice and others.
Home Office
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John O’Connell from the TaxPayers’ Alliance commented, “Taxpayers will struggle to comprehend the amount allocated for translations. Given the all-time high wait times for ambulances and emergency rooms, it’s crucial that every penny possible is redirected towards reducing these accumulating backlogs.”
NHS
Trusts should aim to reduce expenses by utilizing pre-existing translations and sharing resources more effectively.

Over the last five years, NHS England has allocated an annual budget averaging £15.8 million for various services like face-to-face interpretation, translation, and transcription based on government contract data. Following the onset of the pandemic, this expenditure surged to a total of £78.9 million, with the highest single-year spending reaching £19.5 million.

Jason Brown, the creator of The Waste Files—a platform that uncovers governmental expenditures—stated: “Individuals will be astonished to learn how extensively their hard-earned money is allocated towards translation services provided by the NHS.”

Despite lengthy waitlists, unprecedented emergency room delays, and millions struggling to secure an appointment with their general practitioner, government officials and healthcare leaders must consider reallocating these funds to bolster front-line services.

This issue isn’t confined to the NHS; throughout the public sector, hundreds of millions have been allocated to translation services.



Given that the world has become an increasingly perilous environment, the government ought to consider allocating these funds toward enhancing the defense budget.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health stated: “This expenditure encompasses services aimed at ensuring that individuals who are hard of hearing and those with visual impairments have accessible NHS services. We are committed to ensuring that each penny is used effectively.”

A representative from the NHS stated, “Providing translation and interpretation services is not only legally mandatory but also crucial for delivering efficient and secure healthcare to patients.”

It is correct that the NHS provides these services for those in need, including translation, sign language, and documentation.

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