FOI/25/035

Request

 

1.           Does the trust work with translation services that translate healthcare information communications, e.g. leaflets, letters, posters etc

2.           How many healthcare information leaflets/communications did the trust produce and print in FYE 2024?

3.           How many of these were translated in multiple languages?

4.           Which languages does the trust normally translate healthcare information communications into?

5.           How are healthcare information communications delivered to patients that are visually impaired?

6.           What did the trust spend on translation services for healthcare communications in FYE 2024?

7.           What did the trust spend on printing of healthcare communications in FYE 2024?

8.           Please provide the name of the person responsible for managing the creation of healthcare information communications?

9.           Does the trust offer in-hospital way-finding or signage in any language other than English?

 

Response

Having completed enquiries within CLCH in respect of Section 1(1)(a), CLCH does hold information relating to your request, however, the obligation of Section 1(1)(b) cannot be met as CLCH does not hold all the information requested in a format that allows it to be retrieved within the time and cost limits of FOI.

 

When responding to a request for information under the terms of the FOIA, a public authority is not obliged to provide information if the authority estimates that the cost of the retrieval of the information requested would be in excess of £450 (equivalent to 18 hours work). The costs criteria relates to a request in its entirety, which means that if we cannot retrieve all of the information requested within the costs limit, we are not obliged to retrieve any of the information requested.

Section 12(1) of the FOIA states that a public authority is not obliged to:

“…comply with a request for information if the authority estimates that the cost of complying with the request would exceed the appropriate limit.”

 

The following explanation outlines the difficulty CLCH has in answering your request:

CLCH manage interpretating services contract only, we do not manage translation services. Although, there is an element of translation services, these are booked locally. To be able to answer your request we would, therefore, have to contact each services/various groups individually to determine 1) if they hold the information requested and 2) to retrieve the information.

 

Having said that, and in an effort to assist, although excess cost removes the Trust’s obligations under the FOIA, please see below.

 

1	Does the Trust work with translation services that translate healthcare information communications, e.g. leaflets, letters, posters etc?	Yes
2	How many healthcare information leaflets/communications did the Trust produce and print in FYE 2024?	Not held centrally
3	How many of these were translated in multiple languages?	Not held centrally
4	Which languages does the Trust normally translate healthcare information communications into?	Not held centrally
5	How are healthcare information communications delivered to patients that are visually impaired?	We have deaf/blind interpreters and can translate into Braille and Braille foreign and Braille technical
6	What did the Trust spend on printing of healthcare communications in FYE 2024?	Not held centrally
7	Please provide the name of the person responsible for managing the creation of healthcare information communications?	Translations are managed individually by services.
8	Does the Trust offer in-hospital way-finding or signage in any language other than English?	No other languages provided for in the Trust signage, exception for local departments or specific sites – being a community trust many of our sites are small clinic buildings with less complex wayfinding requirements.