• Review interpreting services and recruit more interpreters.
• Ensure ESOL classes are tailored to learners’ needs.
• Improve language skills.
• Invest in childcare to support learning.

What are we doing?

NHS Lanarkshire’s face to face Interpreters are provided by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Interpreting services and they provide interpreters in over 90 languages.

Video and telephone interpreting is provided by Language Line in over 240 languages.

North Lanarkshire Council uses Language Line to provide on the spot access to interpreters and we use face to face interpreters when required.

Plans are in place to contract a face-to-face, remote video and telephone spoken language interpreting service for the Council.

Partners work together to understand the need for English as a Secondary or Other Language (ESOL) and have tailored and increased ESOL provision.

Online twilight 8-week ESOL course for working adults.

ESOL programmes such as Women's Health and Young Mums take place.

There are 3 ESOL classes offered to Syrian people every week in different areas.

The ESOL offer is continuously reviewed in response to learners needs.

The colleges and Community Learning and Develop (CLD) provide access to creche and other childcare facilities to support the participation of women.

What we plan to do

Continue to work with our interpreting suppliers to ensure interpreters are recruited to reflect the needs of Lanarkshire’s patients, carers and communities.  

Voluntary Action North Lanarkshire (VANL) will investigate the level of interpreting support.

"I would like to meet more friends and go to different clubs and whatever but due to language barrier I am not able to do that."

"I think the main area is the language barrier ... it is quite hard to get the necessary support if the service provider cannot provide the language support."