The words to use
- Professional interpreter
- A trained, registered interpreter who translates everything and shares the duty of confidentiality. NHS England guidance says patients should be offered one, free of charge.
- Stop signal
- An agreed sign, such as raising a hand, that means "stop now". Agree it before treatment, through the interpreter if needed, and honour it every time.
- Accessible Information Standard
- The NHS standard (2016, revised 2025) requiring services to ask about, record, flag, share, meet and review people's communication needs.
- Teach-back
- Asking someone to say in their own words what you have explained, to check how well you explained it. It is more than asking "Do you understand?"
