To ask the Minister of Health whether his Department has issued any guidance to Health and Social Care Trusts in relation to the use of interpreters in maternity services settings, in the last five years.

Since it was established over 20 years ago, the Business Services Organisation (BSO) Regional Interpreting Service for Health and Social Care (HSC), has actively promoted language support across HSC Trusts through a number of channels such as:

(i)BSO Working Well with Interpreters Training: (tailored to individual Trusts) which is open to all HSC Trust Staff. This training encourages HSC Staff to:

Understand why we provide language support in HSCNI

Recognise the implications of language barriers in HSCNI

Acknowledge the dangers/risks of using Untrained Interpreters

Appreciate the role of Community Interpreters

Develop knowledge of systems and procedures regarding booking and working with Interpreters

(ii)BSO How to Book an Interpreter (regional) Online Training is open to all HSC Trust Staff. This training covers step by step guidance on:

How to access the BSO Interpreting Service Online Booking System

How to register to use the BSO Interpreting Service Online Booking System

How to book an Interpreter

How to cancel an Interpreter

How to locate the QR code

Booking Pointers

(iii)BSO Interpreting Website - Dedicated Webpage for HSC Staff and Practitioners Information for HSC Staff and Practitioners - Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website

(v)BSO Interpreting Poster for HSC: BSO Interpreting Posters

(vi)BSO Interpreting Poster for GP Practices BSO Interpreting Posters - Practices

(vii)BSO Interpreting, Translated Leaflets Information for Patients - Business Services Organisation (BSO) Website

HSC Trust Maternity Services are significant users of the BSO Interpreting Service. Interpreters are routinely booked across maternity settings in all five HSC Trusts. Belfast HSC Trust Maternity Services has consistently been the largest single user of the service on an annual basis since 2021/22 with almost 4000 requests last fiscal year. In addition, Belfast HSC Trust employs a dedicated BRIDGE Maternity Service Cultural Liaison Midwife, who also supports the induction and training of interpreters joining the BSO Interpreter Register.

All HSC Trusts operate dedicated internal sites for Staff to access further guidance on language support:

Belfast HSC Trust Staff Belfast Trust Guidance

Northern HSC Trust Staff – information on language support via NHSC Staffnet site

Southern HSC Trust: Southern Trust Guidance

South Eastern HSC Trust Staff – information on language support via iConnect

Western HSC Trust Staff – information on language support via WHSCT Staff Communication Support Guidelines: information on foreign language, sign language support, and written Translations

In 2025, The Department of Health Guidance: Make My Voice Heard - Experiences of Women Seeking International Protection was published: Make My Voice Heard: The Experiences of Women seeking International Protection Accessing Health & Social Care in Northern Ireland | Department of Health

This followed a Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) project commissioned by Department of Health NI that was led by Belfast HSC Trust in partnership with the five HSC Hospital Trusts, PHA and the Office for the Mental Health Champion Northern Ireland.

The project sought to engage with women seeking international protection on their experiences of accessing Health and Social Care services, specifically Maternity Services, Public Health Nursing, Social Services and Mental Health Services, in relation to their own experience or the experience of accessing for children.

The project’s recommendations centred on addressing three key issues culture, language and navigation across HSCNI Services

In addition to the above, the Regional Interpreting Service (RIS) and HSC Trusts continue to explore ways of raising awareness among staff and all those who avail of Health and Social Care.