Free interpreters exist, but health-care staff must request them
BC offers free medical interpreting through Provincial Language Services (PLS), part of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA). It is free for patients and families, covers more than 200 languages, runs 24 hours a day, and is delivered by phone or video. Health authorities in the Lower Mainland also offer in-person interpreters that can be booked. [1][4]
Patients cannot book the service themselves. A health-care worker has to make the request. [2][3]
Where it can be used
- Hospitals, emergency departments and health-authority UPCCs (urgent and primary care centres). Fraser Health's emergency guide says an interpreter can be arranged at any point during a visit. [1][3]
- Community family doctors and specialists. The clinic does not pay for phone interpreting, though BCMJ articles say uptake among family doctors was low and that the service was extended to specialists in 2023. [6][7]
- Private walk-in clinics may not be connected to the service, so ask before you go. You can also look for a doctor who speaks your language.
How to ask
Because staff must make the request, the patient needs to raise it with the front desk or nurse, ideally when booking. You can say: [2]
- I need a Mandarin interpreter.
- I need a Cantonese interpreter.
Why family members should not interpret
PHSA and BC Women's Hospital both say family and friends should not act as medical interpreters. Mistranslated or omitted medical terms can affect a diagnosis, and a patient may not speak openly in front of their children. Asking a child to interpret is especially unsuitable. [1][5]
Language support by phone
The 811 HealthLink BC line serves callers in more than 130 languages. [8] The poison control line offers more than 150 languages; just state the language you need when you call.
Before the visit
- Say which language you need when you book.
- Confirm with the front desk or nurse again on arrival.
- Write down symptoms, medications and your questions so the interpreter can go through them one by one.
- If nobody on site knows about the service, ask them to check with the doctor or charge nurse.
Sources
- PHSA: Provincial Language Services interpreting
- PHSA: language access in health care (staff make the request)
- Fraser Health: language services (no patient self-referral)
- Vancouver Coastal Health: spoken language interpreters (free)
- BC Women's Hospital: interpreters (family and friends should not interpret)
- BCMJ: uptake of the free telephone interpretation service among BC family physicians
- BCMJ: service expanded to specialists in 2023
- HealthLink BC: about 8-1-1 (languages)