If you have specific communication needs, we can arrange for an interpreter to attend your appointment or for information to be translated into another format.

Interpretation services

If you require an interpreter for your appointment, please let the relevant staff or clinic know and they will make the appropriate arrangements for you. The contact details for individual clinics can be found on your appointment letter.

Interpreters can be booked for:

  • Different spoken languages
  • British Sign Language

Some teams also use telephone or video interpreting services. The Trust uses a number of providers to fulfil interpreting requests including Kingston Interpreting Services and The Big Word.

If you require an interpreter while you are an inpatient, please advise the ward staff who will assist with this. If your admission is planned, please give the Trust as much notice as possible of any interpreting needs.

Translation services

To arrange for translation of written information, please contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

Patients, families and carers can visit the NHS England resource called health information in other languages, which contains links to patient leaflets and other resources translated into a wide range of languages.

Patient leaflets and easy read

If you would like us to find a specific leaflet for you on the NHS library, please tell a member of staff what you are looking for and ask them to help you to find it.

We also have a Patient Leaflets resource on the website. If you wish to use an online translation tool to access our Patient Leaflets, please be aware that, although online translators can accurately translate individual words and phrases, they may not always be able to interpret the meaning of larger or more complex pieces of information.

Some of our patient leaflets have also been produced in an Easy Read format, including parts of our website.