"It is absolutely right we offer these services"
Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust spent £406,558 on translation services in 2023-2024, new data has revealed. The biggest demand came from Gujarati, Punjabi, and Polish speakers.
The figure is nearly double the £262,300 spent the previous year, marking a 55% increase.
Over five years, the Trust has spent £1.7 million on translations, with Bengali, Arabic, and Romanian among the next most common languages.
Critics argue the funds could be better spent elsewhere.
The cost of translation services is equivalent to hiring 16 nurses or 14 junior doctors for a year. The NHS faces severe staff shortages, and Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust has struggled to meet care standards.
A report from the Care Quality Commission rated the Trust as “requires improvement”.
Inspectors found ward environments “not always safe, clean, well-maintained and fit for purpose”. Mental health services “did not always provide safe care”.
Following the report, the Trust admitted liability for the death of 68-year-old grandfather Steve Dance.
He took his own life after multiple failings in his care. Despite having psychotic depression, he went four months without a visit from his community psychiatric nurse.
His wife’s plea for hospital admission was not properly documented until after his death.
An investigation found “missed opportunities” in his care and poor communication among healthcare staff. The Trust has since apologised for providing “substandard care”.
Amid a national debate over immigration, some argue translation costs highlight the pressure on the NHS.
Helen Fawcett, who is concerned about migration’s impact, said:
“I am furious about this. This situation is yet another result of far too much immigration.
“The expense is colossal, and I know most taxpayers will have no idea where their hard-earned money is being wasted.”
She suggested migrants could help ease translation costs by volunteering:
“Perhaps there could be some sort of volunteering effort from ethnic minorities to help.”
Supporters of immigration argue it is crucial for the NHS.
The Office for Budget Responsibility recently stated that migration is preventing Britain from sliding into recession. Many NHS staff come from migrant backgrounds, filling vital roles.
A spokesperson for Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust said: “Translation and interpretation services are a legal requirement and essential to deliver effective and safe patient care for the whole community.
“It is absolutely right we offer these services for those who need them, making sure nobody is excluded, discriminated against or left behind.
“This includes providing translations, sign language and easy-read documents.”
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