The NHS has come under fire after reports revealed that nearly £80 million has been spent on translation services for non-English-speaking patients since 2020, while County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has paid out over £12 million in damages due to misdiagnosis over the past five years.
New figures show that NHS England has spent an average of £15.8 million per year on translation and interpretation services, including face-to-face support, transcription, and document translations.
Since the pandemic, this expenditure has reached £78.9 million, with the highest single-year cost hitting £19.5 million.
Critics argue that these expenses come at a time when the NHS is struggling with record-high waiting lists, ambulance delays, and overcrowded A&E departments.
TaxPayers’ Alliance representative John O’Connell called for the NHS to cut costs by using pre-translated materials and pooling resources to free up funding for frontline care.
Jason Brown, founder of The Waste Files, which highlights government spending inefficiencies, expressed concern over the growing costs, suggesting that funds could be better allocated to improve access to GPs and reduce hospital waiting times.
The NHS, however, defends the expenditure, stating that translation services are a legal requirement essential for patient safety. An NHS spokesperson emphasised that these services also support patients with hearing and visual impairments, ensuring equal access to healthcare.
In addition to rising translation costs, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust has paid out £12 million in damages for misdiagnoses over the past five years.
Between 2019 and 2024, the trust faced 147 claims related to misdiagnosis, with 125 of them resulting in settlements.
Common claims included delayed or incorrect diagnoses of fractures, cancer, and other serious conditions, leading to fatalities, long-term health issues, and poor medical outcomes. The highest number of claims in a single year occurred between 2019 and 2020, with 46 cases recorded.
When factoring in legal costs, the total amount paid by the trust in misdiagnosis cases reached £20.8 million.
A spokesperson for County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust acknowledged the failures, apologising for cases where care did not meet expected standards.
They reassured the public that every incident is thoroughly investigated, with lessons learned to prevent future mistakes and improve patient safety.
These revelations have sparked renewed debate over NHS spending priorities. While translation services play a crucial role in ensuring accessible healthcare for all, critics argue that streamlining costs could help fund other urgent areas, such as reducing medical errors and improving patient care.
With waiting lists at record highs and growing public concern over misdiagnoses, pressure is mounting on NHS leaders to find a balance between inclusivity and financial efficiency.
