The NHS has been under scrutiny over the last decade or so for long waiting times, healthcare inequality and staff shortages.
However, another problem that some people believe is holding the health service back from being as good as it could be is the issue of language barriers.
The most recent census revealed that 1.5 per cent of the population in England and Wales, the equivalent of 880,000 people, could not speak English well. It also reported that 0.3 per cent (161,000) could not speak English at all.
According to the report, 7.1 per cent of the population spoke English ‘well’ or ‘very well’ but it was not their main language. Instead, Polish was the most common choice for those who did not count English as their main language.
This report shows just how important Polish translation services and other forms of interpretation are to many people in Britain, as not everyone is able to speak fluently.
Additionally, hospital staff are likely to be using terms and phrases with medical jargon that even those who do speak English well are unlikely to be familiar with.
According to Slater & Gordon Lawyers, which deals with medical negligence cases, language barrier can be a big factor in delayed diagnoses or misdiagnoses.
Furthermore, they might not understand the advice of doctors or truly comprehend what they are being told about their condition. Therefore, they may be less likely to obtain the effective treatment as efficiently as those who are fluent in English.
The law firm also reported that when there is a potential misdiagnosis, only 89 per cent of people with mixed heritage will take action, in comparison with 98 per cent of white people. Therefore, the healthcare system is not being held accountable in cases where language has caused issues with them accessing the diagnosis or treatment required.