Hinchingbrooke and Peterborough Hospitals get new service

The service, called Interpreters on Wheels, is a touch-screen tool that helps translate important information between doctors and their patients when a language barrier is present.

The trial's success has led to the gadgets being introduced across different departments in the hospitals.

The tool is also being introduced at the Stamford and Rutland Hospital for the first time.

The North West Anglian Foundation Trust hospitals will get the new service in the following areas:

- Maternity Service at Peterborough City Hospital

- Fracture Clinic at Peterborough City Hospital

- Outpatients at Hinchingbrooke Hospital

- Outpatients at Stamford and Rutland Hospital

- Outpatients at Peterborough City Hospital

- Maternity Service at Hinchingbrooke Hospital

- Ambulatory Care Unit at Peterborough City Hospital

The Interpreter on Wheels system uses Language Line, an online interpretation supplier which has live dial-up access interpreters. 

There are 270 languages available on the system and it can provide an interpreter in less than 30 seconds, including during out of hours times.

Alex Papp, the Trust’s Linguistic And Interpretation Service Co-ordinator, explained: “The IOWs are essentially trolleys on wheels with a securely encased iPad offering the ‘Language Line Insight’ app.

"By offering increased mobility and the single interpreting functionality, these devices are extremely useful for medical staff who need support with communicating effectively with non-English speaking patients.

“Not only does this tool provide a more streamlined and reliable patient experience, but it can reduce a patient’s waiting time and helps  medical staff maximise their time to care for patients.”

During the trial in 2023, 232 calls were made in over 35 different languages.

There are now 27 Interpreters on Wheels devices across the North West Anglian Foundation Trust, and the Trust are looking to expand that number.