The Government is making a significant investment to grow ‘cutting-edge, secure, and sustainable AI infrastructure’ for the UK. However, it is clear that there is a need for a system that is agile and allows quick implementation across the NHS, particularly when it comes to addressing language barriers that arise when treating patients from diverse communities in often critical situations.
Quick implementation of AI-driven translation technology can immediately and dramatically reduce spend and improve services and efficiency. It is already yielding clear, demonstrable high-quality results in a variety of healthcare settings, offering a hybrid, dynamic blend of services that suits different scenarios.
Major language barriers
The UK Census 2021 shows that nearly 10 per cent of the country’s population speak English as an additional language (EAL). This figure is rising steadily and the census also reveals that in large urban areas the percentage is much greater. For example, in areas like Brent and Newham in London, more than one third of the population speaks EAL, while there are similarly high proportions in many other UK cities such as Birmingham and Leicester.
This diversity, which corresponds with non-white ethnic background communities, is creating language barriers that are causing significant challenges across the NHS, as well as costing millions for each NHS Trust to overcome. Healthcare staff in the UK are continuing to lose valuable time as language barriers remain disruptive to patient care, impact waiting times and compromise safeguarding.
Research conducted early in 2025 shows that one in 10 healthcare workers face language barriers on a daily basis. According to the study, the average time lost overcoming language barriers amounts to more than half a working day each month – six working days every year. What’s more, over a third of healthcare workers expressed concern about safeguarding issues due to language differences.
Better communication produces better and safer clinical outcomes
In research we conducted with UK healthcare workers over a third expressed concern about safeguarding issues arising from misunderstandings due to language differences, underlining the high stakes involved in clear communication within clinical environments.
Also, in situations where appointments haven’t been made, for example, in emergency admissions, third-party solutions such as human translators, which require pre-booking, aren’t always readily available. In addition, when health practitioners can converse privately with a patient without relying on a family member or friend to translate, which is a common scenario, patients can ask for family members, including children, to be removed from a difficult situation.
Conversely, studies show that a clinician’s ability to explain, listen and empathise can have a huge impact on patient health outcomes as well as patient satisfaction.
For instance, if we look at female health, having technology like a digital translation device on hand that enables the patient to build rapport with their doctor or nurse, can bring a sense of calmness and trust. This allows the patient to connect more personally with the medical team.
Agile AI-driven technology solutions
At present healthcare organisations are locked into longer contract lengths, preventing the adoption of new or improved solutions and the ability to keep pace with innovation and new technologies. Budgets are tied up into these contracts preventing them being used to provide better patient care and outcomes and the incumbent system is now outdated and slow moving. The administrative processes prohibit the implementation of technology, which costs organisations money as they’re unable to benefit from more affordable, reliable and efficient solutions. Helping organisations understand how new technology can help is fundamental.
AI-driven translation technology has the scope to offer enhanced and more efficient solutions that can be adopted quickly and easily. AI has evolved significantly in a short time and the possibilities are endless making it essential for the NHS to use AI-powered translation solutions. That said, language translation in healthcare isn’t suitable for a ‘one size fits all’ solution. Rather, we need a number of solutions so that the most appropriate can be applied to each scenario. This would help ease issues around safeguarding, delays and overspend.
Educate to change perceptions and allay fears
There is still a lack of awareness of digital solutions and the benefits that they bring. This leads to a lack of challenge of the status quo and, in turn, ineffective measures and processes that hinder both staff and patients. Currently a digital hesitancy exists due to outdated misconceptions around safety and accuracy, plaguing decision makers as AI is still a victim of lack of awareness around security and impact.
There is a perceived accuracy and trust issue because stakeholders and decision makers worry that digital solutions lack the nuances of human translation, which are only needed in certain scenarios. Asking for a glass of water doesn’t necessitate in person translation, however it’s the only option, conversely, intimate medical conversations must consider privacy and safeguarding concerns.
We need to grow a better understanding of what translation solution is needed for each scenario; medical vs non-medical, and perhaps a public survey could facilitate this. We also need to educate decision makers about how AI is just a part of the process and progress, which will help attitudes in the healthcare system to evolve in order to harness AI’s ability for greater, more efficient outcomes.
Adopting AI to spend money more effectively
To help do this we should be looking to replicate other countries such as France, which is embracing AI and noticing a positive impact quickly. Adopting technology can unlock budgets that are better spent on the areas where it really matters, such as front line staff. It would also remove some of the challenges that are increasing wait times.
Simply put, NHS Trusts are spending far too much money on translation and interpretation. In London alone it is estimated that over 300 languages are spoken, including minority languages that aren’t always covered by existing solutions, such as human interpreters – which, according to the TaxPayers’ Alliance, are costing NHS Trusts over £100m every year. This is happening when new options that are easy to implement, could be saving them millions every year, freeing up budgets to improve services.
Using AI to build a better health service
Ultimately, tackling waste is a huge challenge in the NHS so by utilising cost effective options the cost-saving can be diverted into patient care. Technology providers don’t want to eat into budgets, rather they want to safeguard it for where it’s desperately needed. As the NHS moves forward in its journey through digital transformation, embracing AI as a tool can drive efficiency, improve patient care, and greatly help to shape the future of healthcare delivery. Through strategic investments and a commitment to innovation, the NHS can position itself as a global leader in digital healthcare, delivering better outcomes for patients and healthcare professionals alike.
