Interpretation Services

Patients have a fundamental legal and ethical right to decide what happens to them when receiving treatment in our hospital. It is therefore essential that patients have given valid consent for all treatments and investigations.

Patients and surgeons/anaesthetists work together in partnership through a process of supported decision-making, with the surgeon providing the information the patient needs to make a decision, whilst ensuring the patient has understood the details and implications of what is involved.

When helping a patient reach a decision about treatment, surgeons/anaesthetists must be satisfied to the best of their knowledge that the patient gave or withheld consent to treatment autonomously, without coercion or unwelcome influence from other persons, including family members, friends, employers, insurers, carers or medical staff.

In respect of this, we use a company called 'Language Line' to access an interpreter for those patients for whom English is not their first language. Please inform us if you need access to this service prior to your admission date, in order to facilitate a smooth patient journey.