@rupertlowemp: This clip has caused quite a stir - I stand by every word. It's estimated that the NHS spends £100 million a year on translation/interpretation. Is that a cost the British taxpayer should bear? The answer is a resounding no. I'm told that foreign patients feel 'more comfortable speaking in their native language'. To be entirely honest, so what? It's not our problem. If that's the case, they can bring a friend/translator - as Brits have to do all over the world if we want to access healthcare. That, or use tech/AI, which can provide rapid and incredibly accurate translation services. Not forgetting that we also have a huge issue with foreign nationals using the NHS, and then not paying. The Department of Health has confirmed to me that £100,000,000 was the amount due from 'chargeable overseas visitors' in 2022/23 for NHS treatment. The amount actually collected? Just £32,000,000. So yes, we should be more aware of people unable to speak English accessing NHS services - failure to pay invoices is costing us a vast amount of money every year. Clearly, exceptions should be made for sign language and Welsh speakers, but this is a minuscule amount of overall translation costs. Why should the British taxpayer fund translation into Romanian? Urdu? Bengali? And hundreds of other languages. Sorry, but it is NOT our problem. And you know what? A huge number of MPs agree with what I'm saying, but don't have the balls to say it. The country would be in a far better place if our politicians would outline uncomfortable truths, even if it results in being insulted and abused. I don't care. The NHS pleads poverty, then pumps money into translation/DEI. Health service leadership needs to get urgently get its priorities in order. We need a selfish NHS, that puts the British people first.

rupertlowemp

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Saturday 16 November 2024 14:23:27 GMT