NHS Translation Costs Surge, Fueling Immigration Concerns
Newly released data obtained by GB News reveals a dramatic escalation in translation and interpretation expenses within the National Health Service (NHS). The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s spending on these services has more than doubled over the past five years, prompting serious questions about the impact of immigration pressures on the health service.
Key Findings:
- 2023/24 Spend: £339,806 – equivalent to hiring 13 new nurses or 11 junior doctors.
- Five-Year Total: £939,868 – sufficient for 22,000 GP appointments or 3,200 ambulance callouts.
- Increase Since 2019: A staggering 127% rise from £149,276 in 2019/20.
This significant increase is largely attributed to the influx of non-EU migrants who require translation services for communication and healthcare access. Recent Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures reveal a net migration of 906,000 in 2023/24 – a substantial figure that surpasses previous estimates and highlights the concentration of non-EU arrivals. One million non-EU nationals have relocated to Britain during this period, largely offsetting the decline in EU migration following Brexit.
Projected Future Costs: Under current trends, the Trust’s translation expenditures are projected to reach £1 million annually by 2037, representing a considerable financial burden considering the NHS is already grappling with an aging and increasingly unwell population. The most frequently requested translations in 2023/24 included Polish, Urdu, Arabic, Punjabi, and Farsi.
Critical Perspectives:
“Taxpayers are routinely lost for words at the endless revelations about the ballooning cost of translation services in the public sector,” stated William Yarwood, media campaign manager for the TaxPayers’ Alliance. “In the health service the problem seems to be particularly severe, and many will be asking whether the NHS delivers these services as efficiently as they should be.” He advocated for increased efficiency through digital solutions and resource sharing.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has pledged additional funding for the NHS contingent upon significant reforms aimed at bolstering operational effectiveness. However, critics argue this approach is insufficient, pointing to ongoing spending on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion (DEI) roles – with Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust alone allocating £307,181 to DEI last year – often accompanied by substantial benefits for employees.
Debate Intensifies: The escalating translation costs are fueling a broader debate about the impact of immigration on the NHS. While some argue that mass migration places undue strain on services due to increased demand for translated care, greater reliance on healthcare and higher birth rates among immigrant populations; others maintain that immigration is vital for sustaining the workforce and preventing economic recession.
“I am furious about this,” exclaimed Helen Fawcett, a concerned taxpayer. “This situation is yet another result of far too much immigration… It seems to me the huge number of immigrants is putting too much strain on the NHS. Perhaps there could be some sort of volunteering effort from ethnic minorities to help with these translation costs.”
The Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust has been approached for comment.
