Improvement framework: community language translation and interpreting services (NHS England, 27 May 2025)

Summary

1 million people in the UK are unable to speak English well, or at all.

People who speak little or no English are more likely to be in poor health, have a greater likelihood of experiencing adverse events and of developing life-threatening conditions and tend to have poorer access to and experiences of healthcare services than people who don’t have language barriers. They can struggle at all points of their journeys through healthcare.

Content

Translation and interpreting services for community languages are inconsistent across the NHS.

Support for them by NHS commissioners, national programmes and NHS trusts is variable and the lack of high quality, appropriate and accessible services is stopping people from engaging with the healthcare they need.

NHS organisations, including commissioners and trusts, have legal duties to provide accessible and inclusive health communications for patients and the public.

This framework is designed to support the provision of consistent, high-quality community language translation and interpreting services by the NHS to people with limited English proficiency.

Community languages are defined as languages used by minority groups or communities where a majority language exists (for example, English in the UK).

It should be used as a framework for action across the NHS, including by NHS trusts and integrated care boards (ICBs).

In primary care, it supplements the existing guidance for commissioners on interpreting and translation services and should be used alongside it.