Image banks and visual resources
The Picture Communication Tool
This comprises sets of ‘free to download and print’ drawings. Cannot replace the need for interpreters but can be particularly useful for day to day activities within a medical setting.
Simplifying language, effective communication
Plain English Campaign:
How to write medical information in plain English
The A-Z of Alternative Words
Plain English Guide to Forms
CHANGE
How to Make Information Accessible: a guide to producing easy read documents.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Effective strategies for sharing health information in ways that people can understand and use.
Office for Disability Issues, NZ
A guide to making Easy Read information.
Information about community languages
Language Identification Chart
A PDF with translations for “I speak language” in sixty two languages.
Translated materials
NHS
Find links to health information in other languages provided by other websites.
NHS Cancer Screening:
Breast Cancer
Cervical Cancer
Bowel Cancer
BME Health Forum
Translated health information
Translated Health Information
A wide range of information available in different languages.
Translated DH publications and resources
Archived materials from The Department of Health
HERON NHS Norfolk
Health and social care information in community languages and alternative formats.
British Red Cross Society
The Emergency Multilingual phrasebook, translated into 36 languages. NB: this cannot replace an interpreter.
New South Wales Government
Translated resources by health topic.
Working with interpreters
Nursing Times
Thom, N. 2008: Using telephone interpreters to communicate with patients. Nursing Times; 104: 46, 28–29.
Working With Interpreters
Hints and tips for working with interpreters both face to face and over the telephone.
Working with interpreters - guidelines for psychologists (2017)
Working with interpreters online or via the telephone (2020)
Both of the above from The British Psychological Society.
Commissioning interpreter services
BMC Health Services Research
What do language barriers cost? An exploratory study among asylum seekers in Switzerland. Bischoff A, Denhaerynck K, 2010: BMC Health Services Research. 23;10:248.
Northwest RSMP
ESOL for Refugees – Migration Yorkshire toolkit
NHS England
Guidance for commissioners: Interpreting and Translation Services in Primary Care
Public Health England
Advice and guidance on the health needs of migrant patients for healthcare practitioners, 2021.
The Customer Hub
Guide to commissioning interpreting services written by the Institute of Linguists National Register of Public Service Interpreters (NRPSI Ltd)
Research
Research Evidence on Ethnicity and Communication in Healthcare
Szczepura et al, 2005: An Overview of the Research Evidence on Ethnicity and Communication in Healthcare. Final Report.
RCLST
The Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) specific interest group in bilingualism: Good practice for speech and language therapists: Working with clients from linguistic minority communities
PubMed
Rowland ML, 2008: Enhancing communication in dental clinics with linguistically different patients. Journal of Dental Education 72(1):72-80.
European Journal of Psychotherapy & Counselling
Tribe, R and Keefe, A 2009: Issues in using interpreters in therapeutic work with refugees. What is not being expressed? European Journal of Psychotherapy and Counselling, 11(4), 409–424.
Missed Opportunities When Communicating With Limited English-Proficient Patients
Norris WM, Wenrich MD, Nielsen EL, Treece PD, Jackson JC, Curtis JR, 2005: Communication about end-of-life care between language-discordant patients and clinicians: insights from medical interpreters. Journal of Palliative Medicine. 8(5):1016-24
Health services utilization by low-income limited English proficient adults
Graham et al, 2008, Journal of Immigrant Health, 10(3):207-17
Low health literacy
Villaire, M, & Mayer, G/G, 2007. Chronic illness management and low health literacy. Group Practice Journal, 56 (4), 40-45.
Teaching patients with low literacy skills
Doak, CC, Doak, LG, & Root, JH, 1996. Teaching patients with low literacy skills. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: J. B. Lippincott.
Writing easy to read teaching aids
Mayer GG & Rushton N, 2002. Writing easy to read teaching aids. Nursing 2002, 32 (3) 48-49