If a patient's English is limited, use a professional interpreter. Using family members, especially children, is not appropriate for clinical consultations except in an emergency.
TIS National (Translating and Interpreting Service) provides phone and on-site interpreters 24 hours a day. The number is 131 450. Medical practitioners in private practice can use it free of charge for Medicare-eligible patients, and doctors can register for a priority line.
Hospitals have their own interpreter services, and Auslan interpreters are available for Deaf patients.
Tips:
- Brief the interpreter first.
- Speak directly to the patient, in the first person ("How long have you had the pain?").
- Use short sentences and pause for interpretation.
- Avoid jargon and idioms.
- Allow extra time.
- Document that an interpreter was used, including their ID number.
In the AMC exam, when a station includes a patient who speaks little English, saying "I would arrange a professional interpreter" is expected, and using a relative for consent or sensitive history is marked down.