Foreign workers

wilfred30

My understanding has always been that medical staff are not allowed to speak in a foreign language to each other in front of a patient.

DullGreyGuy

wilfred30 said:

My understanding has always been that medical staff are not allowed to speak in a foreign language to each other in front of a patient.

Surely it would also depend on the patients language abilities?

Last time in A&E there was a walk in patient who was clearly a Spanish speaker who couldn't speak English, my wife is a native Spanish speaker and when they failed to find a translator after 5 minutes the Mrs offered to translate. When they went in to be seen they were sent to the Spanish speaking nurse so my wife's services were no longer required. Would seem very odd that that nurse wouldn't be allowed to speak Spanish to a patient that speaks no English, likewise if they handed over to a doctor with spanish language abilities. 

Maybe London is different given almost 50% speak a second language

wilfred30

DullGreyGuy said:

wilfred30 said:

My understanding has always been that medical staff are not allowed to speak in a foreign language to each other in front of a patient.

Surely it would also depend on the patients language abilities?

Last time in A&E there was a walk in patient who was clearly a Spanish speaker who couldn't speak English, my wife is a native Spanish speaker and when they failed to find a translator after 5 minutes the Mrs offered to translate. When they went in to be seen they were sent to the Spanish speaking nurse so my wife's services were no longer required. Would seem very odd that that nurse wouldn't be allowed to speak Spanish to a patient that speaks no English, likewise if they handed over to a doctor with spanish language abilities. 

Maybe London is different given almost 50% speak a second language

That's not the same thing at all.  I did say "not allowed to speak in a foreign language to each other in front of a patient"