Do I have the right to a free interpreter when using the NHS?

Yes. You have the right to a free professional interpreter at every stage of your NHS care — at the GP, hospital, NHS 111, A&E, specialist clinics and mental health services. Arranging the interpreter is the responsibility of the healthcare provider, and you should never have to pay for interpreting or translation. This is part of the NHS's duty to make services equally accessible, including under the Equality Act 2010 and the Accessible Information Standard.

Can I use a family member or my child to interpret at a medical appointment?

It is strongly discouraged, and children should never be used to interpret health information. Even someone with excellent everyday English may not understand medical terms, which can lead to mistakes with dosage, diagnosis or consent. Using relatives also raises privacy problems for sensitive conditions and places an unfair emotional burden on family — especially children. Insist on a professional interpreter instead; it is safer for you and for them.

How do I request an NHS interpreter?

Tell the service your preferred language (for example Mandarin or Cantonese) as early as possible. When you register with a GP you can record your language and communication needs on the GMS1 form so they are noted in your record and arranged automatically. When booking a GP or specialist appointment, say in advance that you need an interpreter, and the practice will arrange phone, video or in-person interpreting. For NHS 111 and A&E, state your language and they can connect telephone interpreting.

What is the Accessible Information Standard?

The Accessible Information Standard (AIS) requires every organisation providing NHS or adult social care to ask about, record, flag and meet patients' communication needs. That includes spoken-language interpreting, British Sign Language and other support for deaf or deafblind people, and written information in alternative formats such as large print or easy-read. Because the need is flagged in your record, the right support should be provided at each visit.

The clinic didn't arrange an interpreter — what can I do?

First, insist at the time: ask them to arrange telephone or video interpreting, which most GPs and hospitals can access immediately. For non-urgent care, you can ask to rebook for a time when interpreting can be provided; for urgent care, insist on immediate telephone interpreting. If it is still not provided, raise it with the organisation's PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) or through the NHS complaints process — providing communication support is a legal duty, not an optional extra.

Is NHS medical interpreting the same as a court interpreter?

No. Medical interpreting is arranged and paid for by the NHS for healthcare appointments. Interpreting for court or tribunal proceedings is a separate system with its own rules and arrangements. If you need an interpreter for a legal hearing rather than a medical appointment, see our separate guide on free court interpreters.

Can deaf or hard-of-hearing patients get communication support?

Yes. Under the Accessible Information Standard, deaf and hard-of-hearing patients have the right to communication support such as a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter, lipspeaker, or deafblind manual interpreter, arranged and paid for by the NHS. Record your needs with your GP and remind services when you book so the right support is in place for each appointment.

Does asking for an interpreter affect my immigration status or cost me anything?

No. Requesting an interpreter is your right, it is free to you, and it does not affect your immigration status. NHS interpreting is confidential. Registering with a GP and recording your language needs does not require proof of immigration status, and using an interpreter simply helps ensure you receive safe, accurate care.

NHS Free Medical Interpreting and Language Support for Patients: Your Rights, How to Request It, and What to Do If Refused

Key Takeaways

You have the right to a free professional interpreter — at every stage of your care at the GP, hospital, NHS 111, A&E, specialist, and mental health services. Arranging the interpreter is the responsibility of the healthcare provider; you should never pay for it yourself.

Do not use a family member, friend, or — especially — a child as your interpreter. NHS guidance is unambiguous: the risk of omission, mistranslation, privacy breach, and emotional burden is real; children should never be used to interpret medical information.

How to request one: Tell the clinic or hospital in advance which language you need (Mandarin, Cantonese, etc.) and they will arrange telephone, video, or in-person interpreting. You can register your language needs when booking an appointment or when registering with a GP (on the GMS1 form).

Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients: You have the right to a BSL (British Sign Language) interpreter and other communication support under the Accessible Information Standard (AIS).

AIS requires NHS and social care organisations to communicate with you “in a way you can understand” — this includes interpreting, large print, easy-read formats, and more.

If interpreting is refused or not arranged: Insist at the time, rebook for when it can be provided, and raise a complaint with the organisation’s PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service). Providing communication support is a statutory duty.

This is not the same as court interpreting: Medical interpreting is arranged by the NHS. Court and tribunal interpreting operates under a separate system — see Free Court Interpreters.

Jurisdiction: Primarily England; Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have similar obligations and services.

Many Chinese-speaking people living in the UK — particularly older residents, recent arrivals, and accompanying parents — share the same worry when they visit a doctor: “I cannot understand what the doctor is saying, and the doctor cannot understand me. My child or a friend has to muddle through as an interpreter, and the whole thing gets more confused.” This is not merely stressful; it genuinely endangers health — wrong dosages heard, symptoms not conveyed clearly, consent forms not understood.

The good news is: when using the NHS, you have the right to a free professional interpreter. This is not a special favour; it is a service that healthcare providers must supply — precisely to ensure that no one receives the wrong diagnosis, wrong treatment, or is unable to give informed consent because of a language barrier.

This article explains: your rights to interpreting, why you should not ask family members or children to interpret, how to request interpreting in each setting, communication support for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients, and what to do if you are refused.

The single most important point: Do not give up your right to an interpreter because you feel you are “causing trouble” or think “the child can just translate for a moment”. Medical information is a matter of safety — insisting on a professional interpreter is your right and your responsibility to yourself.

Key resources:

NHS England — Accessible Information Standard (AIS) — Implementation Guidance
NHS England — Interpreting and Translation Services in Primary Care — Commissioner Guidance
Complaints and assistance — PALS (Patient Advice and Liaison Service) at your hospital or clinic
Related guides: GP Registration, Who to See for NHS Care, Free Court Interpreters

1. Your Rights: Free, Professional, and the Provider’s Responsibility to Arrange

Free: NHS interpreting and translation is free to patients — you must not be asked to pay;
Professional: You have the right to a trained professional interpreter (telephone, video, or in-person), covering every stage of your care — from triage and consultation through examination, informed consent, and discharge instructions;
Provider’s responsibility: Arranging an interpreter is the duty of the GP practice or hospital, not a burden on you;
Legal basis: The NHS is obliged to ensure services are accessible to all (including reasonable adjustments under the Equality Act 2010 and the Accessible Information Standard).

In a nutshell: “I need a Mandarin / Cantonese interpreter” is something you have every right to say, and the organisation must respond to it.

2. Why You Should Not Use a Family Member, Friend, or Child as Your Interpreter

NHS guidance explicitly discourages the use of non-professionals (especially children) to interpret medical information, for the following reasons:

Accuracy: Good everyday English does not equal knowledge of medical terminology; omissions and mistranslations can lead to errors in dosage, diagnosis, and medication;
Privacy: Sensitive conditions (gynaecological, mental health, sexual health, cancer) are hard to discuss openly in front of family members;
Emotional burden: Asking a child to interpret serious illness or bad news is a heavy and wholly inappropriate burden;
Impartiality: Family members may make decisions on your behalf or filter information.

Children should never be used to interpret medical information — this is the NHS’s clear and unequivocal position. Insisting on a professional interpreter is better for both you and the child.

3. How to Request an Interpreter (by Setting)

Setting	What to do
Registering with a GP	Record your preferred language and communication needs on the GMS1 registration form or directly with the practice; this is noted in your medical record and interpreting is arranged automatically thereafter
Booking a GP or specialist appointment	State in advance which language you need when booking; the practice will pre-arrange telephone, video, or in-person interpreting
Hospital outpatient or inpatient care	Notify the hospital on the appointment confirmation letter and on admission; you can also contact the hospital’s PALS for assistance
NHS 111 / A&E	When calling 111, state your language (e.g. “Cantonese” or “Mandarin”) and they will connect telephone interpreting; you can also request an interpreter at A&E
Deaf and hard-of-hearing patients	You have the right to a BSL interpreter, lipspeaker, deafblind manual interpreter, and other communication support (AIS)

The earlier you ask, the better: Registering your language needs when you book or register is far more reliable than asking on the day. You can ask an English-speaking relative or friend to ring ahead to register the requirement (but the actual appointment should still use a professional interpreter).

4. Accessible Information Standard (AIS)

The AIS requires all NHS and adult social care organisations to proactively ask, record, flag, and meet patients’ communication needs, including:

Interpreting (spoken language and sign language);
Written information in alternative formats (large print, easy-read, and translations where necessary);
Flagging your needs in your medical record so the right support is provided automatically at every appointment.

5. What to Do If You Are Refused or Interpreting Is Not Arranged

Insist at the time: State “I have the right to a free interpreter — please arrange telephone or video interpreting.” Most providers have immediate telephone interpreting available;
Rebook: If it genuinely cannot be arranged at that moment, ask to rebook for a time when interpreting can be provided (for non-urgent care); for urgent care, insist on immediate telephone interpreting;
Complain: Raise the matter with the organisation’s PALS, or use the [NHS complaints process]; providing communication support is a statutory duty, and repeated failures can be formally complained about;
Seek help: Contact Circle Vision Foundation or your local Healthwatch for assistance in asserting your rights.

6. Common Situations and Pitfalls for the Chinese Community

“The child can just translate for a moment” — Do not use a child for medical information; insist on a professional interpreter.
An elderly person attending alone who cannot follow the consultation — Register your Cantonese or Mandarin needs with your GP when you first register, so interpreting is arranged automatically each time.
Sensitive conditions (mental health, gynaecological, sexual health) — Professional interpreters are bound by confidentiality; they are a safer choice than a family member.
Assuming you have to pay for an interpreter — NHS interpreting is free to patients; do not accept being charged.
Arriving to find no interpreter has been arranged — Ask for immediate telephone interpreting (available at most practices and hospitals), or rebook.
Confusing medical and court interpreting — For NHS care, see the NHS; for court and tribunal interpreting, see Free Court Interpreters.

Circle Vision Foundation Services

Circle Vision Foundation (CVF) provides healthcare language support assistance for Chinese-speaking people in the UK:

Explaining your right to an interpreter — Advising you how to request a free interpreter in each NHS setting
Advance registration assistance — Helping you register your Mandarin or Cantonese needs when registering with a GP or booking an appointment
Appointment preparation — Bilingual preparation of symptom, medication, and allergy lists to assist communication through an interpreter
Assistance appealing a refusal — Supporting you in raising a complaint with PALS or the NHS if interpreting was not provided
Deaf and hard-of-hearing support referrals — BSL and other communication support resources

Contact:

Email: [email protected]
Address: 5th Floor, 167-169 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5PF
Website: circle-vision.org/contact-us

Jurisdiction / Data Version Note

Scope: Primarily the England NHS interpreting obligation and Accessible Information Standard; Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have similar frameworks.

Version of rules: Based on NHS England guidance on interpreting and translation services, the Accessible Information Standard, and the Equality Act 2010 (reflecting the position as at June 2026).

This article is not legal or medical advice — it is a rights-information guide; for specific disputes, please contact Circle Vision Foundation (CVF).

Version & Responsibility:

Jurisdiction: England primarily
Data sources: NHS England (interpreting / AIS), nhs.uk, Healthwatch
Date last verified: 2026-06-06
Published by: Circle Vision Foundation (England & Wales registered charity no. 1209727)
Feedback and corrections: If you find that a rule is out of date or that a fact is incorrect, please email [email protected] and we will verify and update within 14 days.

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