Many of the women we care for at the Royal Women's Hospital come from a multicultural background and speak little or no English.
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The Women's is committed to helping you communicate with your health provider through an interpreter so that you can actively participate in decisions about your healthcare.
We provide qualified interpreters for language assistance in the hospital's outpatient clinics, departments and wards. They understand the importance of interpreting accurately and impartially and keeping your information confidential.
Our interpreters speak many of the languages required most often at the Women's, such as: Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Turkish, Greek, Serbian, Spanish and Somali. They are also specialised in women's health terminology and are familiar with women's health issues and medical treatments.
You are encouraged to bring your husband, partner, relatives or friends for support at your consultation. However it helps us to care for you if a trained interpreter is present so that you can understand everything and ask the midwife or doctor questions about your care.
You can request an interpreter when you make an appointment with the hospital clinic reception staff.
If an interpreter is unavailable to assist at your appointment, our staff can contact a telephone interpreter service 24 hours a day (including after hours, weekends and public holidays) to help you communicate with us.
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