Primary Care Interpreting across Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark
Service Information for GP Practice Staff
In March 2020, we changed the way we book interpreters in general practice across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham (LSL). If you have a patient who requires an interpreter, then you can book a linguist with our new language service provider DA Languages Ltd.
Services available
The following interpreting services are available;
| On demand (no booking required) | Pre-bookable |
| Telephone interpreting On demand video interpreting (spoken languages) On demand video interpreting (British Sign Language -BSL) | Video interpreting (pre-bookable) Face-to-Face (pre-bookable) Translation |
As you are aware, we are still in a pandemic therefore Face-to-Face interpreting should only be used where absolutely necessary and be determined by a clinician based on the patient’s clinical needs.
Please view the Practice resource pack which provides information on ;
- What interpreting services are available
- How to book an interpreter
- Marketing Materials (Posters and leaflets)
- Service support
- NHS England Guidance
Practice resources
Located on this page is a library of resources available for your practice to use including ‘how to guides’ and patient leaflets. Also included is an instructions video DA Languages and a demonstration of the app on video.
- Quick guide for practices
- Booking guide for practices
- How to log in from your pc
- Raising a video interpreting booking
- Telephone interpreting guide and language codes
- 3-way call instructions
- Do you need an interpreter? (poster)
- British sign language guidance
- Patient leaflet
- Arabic patient leaflet
- Mandarin patient leaflet
- Polish patient leaflet
- Portuguese patient leaflet
- Somalian patient leaflet
- Turkish patient leaflet
- Vietnamese patient leaflet
Practice Websites. It is recommended that information on how a patient can access an interpreter is also made available on GP practice websites for patients to access.
NHS England guidance for the commissioning of interpreting services for primary care highlights principles of best practice for both commissioners and primary care providers. The guidance should be reviewed by all GP practices.
Key Contacts
For any questions, queries or for more information please email DA Languages direct on louis.buxton@dalanguages.co.uk and cc in NHS SEL CCG service lead Yvonne Davies (ydavies@nhs.net).
Alternatively please contact your borough based lead;
| Lambeth: | Antoinette Scott | Antoinettescott@nhs.net |
| Lewisham: | Yvonne Davies | ydavies@nhs.net |
| Southwark: | Kirsty McAuley | k.mcauley1@nhs.net |