NHS interpreter contract ‘not under threat’

NHS Tayside has said a crucial interpreter contract is not under threat. Fears had been expressed by members of Dundee’s deaf community during a Scottish Parliament Public Audit Committee meeting.

Brian Hogan, secretary of deaf charity Deaf Action, revealed concerns that an integral contract for both sign and foreign language interpreters has been delayed due to its cost.

Mr Hogan told committee members he believes the contract has been “postponed” after it entered a new financial bracket.

It is understood NHS Tayside decided to invalidate a tender bid for the contract at the end of June due to the costs. Instead of opening up to new bidders, health bosses extended the existing contract for a year until October 2017.

Charity secretary Mr Hogan said the treatment of deaf people within the health sector has come on leaps and bounds due to interpreters.

He said: “In the past, deaf people have been seriously neglected. Deaf people have had hospital stays of two weeks and not once was there an interpreter present to explain to them what was going on.

“Over the years we have improved that situation so the numbers of deaf people in hospital and GP appointments having access to an interpreter has really improved. As a result, the cost to the NHS of providing that contract has gone up.”

Mr Hogan added: “We recently reached a situation where this interpreting contract is due to be renewed. But it has been postponed because it requires a lot more work.”

NHS Tayside diversity and i nclusion manager Santosh Chima said: “We have a three-year contract for services which we have extended until October 2017.”