First reported 20 Dec 2019•Latest report 7 Oct 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of dedicated interpreter or interpretation-support arrangements where unavailable, delayed or inaccessible language or sign-language interpretation impairs urgent assessment, care, safeguarding, custody support or other safety-critical communication, including prison interpretation services and British Sign Language provision for mental-health patients.
Not included
Excludes ordinary communication deficiencies where no interpreter or interpretation-support requirement is identified.
Excludes language-access problems limited to general information or routine administration where no safety-critical communication consequence is asserted.
Excludes generic staffing, training, funding or inter-agency coordination deficiencies unless they directly make a required interpreter unavailable or delayed.
Excludes failures concerning the content or quality of communication after an appropriate interpreter was available.
Do not duplicate the existing healthcare-specific interpreter-provision parent where the assertion is confined to that narrower healthcare boundary; this proposal covers the supported cross-setting interpreter-access condition.
Reports
3
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
3
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2019–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
9
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care2
Cabinet Office1
Department for Education1
Department for Work and Pensions1
Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust1
HM Prison and Probation Service1
HM Prison Service1
National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People1
NHS England1
Ministerial department2
Executive agency1
Executive non-departmental public body1
NHS trust1
Professional membership body1
Sub-organisation1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Lack of British Sign Language interpreters available to support deaf mental health patients
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Lack of available British Sign Language interpreters for Deaf patients with mental health difficulties
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.7
Action
Hold a stakeholder meeting to brief stakeholders on the plan to publish a refreshed Accessible Information Standard.
Stated by NHS EnglandStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Work with the BSL Advisory Board to inform statutory guidance with professional standards and contract-level requirements for interpreter provision.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Support NHS England and Integrated Care Boards in designing procurement frameworks aligned with the Procurement Act 2023.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Support Deaf organisations and sector partners in advocating for system-wide changes enabling practical real-time language provision.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Contribute to statutory guidance under the BSL Act by promoting high-quality, regulated interpreting requirements in service specifications and contracts.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Promote person-centred procurement models embedding interpreting provision from the outset of care planning.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Action
Promote interpreter provision as a core communication function within care and safeguarding models.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 27 March 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.6
Position
Individual NHS Trusts and employers determine staffing levels and workforce composition, including appropriate weekend cover.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Integrated Care Boards are responsible for commissioning community mental health services and ensuring adequate BSL interpreter provision.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
NHS commissioners and procurement leads must require interpreting agencies to adopt continuity-based frameworks and confirm interpreter availability during care planning.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Systemic improvement in interpreter access cannot be achieved by NRCPD alone, requiring coordinated action by multiple organisations and sectors.
Stated by National Registers of Communication Professionals working with Deaf and Deafblind People (NRCPDUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Position
Commissioning community mental health services, including adequate BSL interpreter provision, is the responsibility of integrated care boards.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
NHS trusts and integrated care boards are responsible for making Equality Act reasonable adjustments to ensure accessible services.
Stated by Department of Health and Social CareRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Manchester City
Concerns raised1
Inconsistent use of interpretation services during healthcare interviews and ACCT reviews
This report raised 20 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Complete changes to the redesigned ACCT form and guidance and roll them out across the prison estate.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 8 January 2020.
Action
Improve interpretation-service use at HMP Manchester by providing conference-style telephones for case reviews.
Stated by HM Prison and Probation ServiceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 January 2020.
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Includes failures of dedicated interpreter or interpretation-support arrangements where unavailable, delayed or inaccessible language or sign-language interpretation impairs urgent assessment, care, safeguarding, custody support or other safety-critical communication, including prison interpretation services and British Sign Language provision for mental-health patients.
