NHS Lanarkshire Translation Costs Soar

NHS Lanarkshire have spent £545,000 translating English for foreign nationals during the past five years, according to a recent news in Wishaw Press.

For the previous 12 months alone, the local health board’s figure has soared to a whopping £157,000. Throughout the county’s three hospitals – including Wishaw General – more than 50 languages have been translated.

The languages that the health board have had to fork out for include Chinese, Cantonese, Punjabi, Polish and British Sign Language.

Across Scotland the NHS spent almost £4million on interpreters last year.

This represents the highest amount spent yet – with a five-year figure totalling more than £13million.