THE bill for translation and interpreting services at Burton hospitals has increased by more than half over the last five years.

Figures obtained in a Freedom of Information request by the Burton Mail show a 53 per cent increase in the cost to Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust between 2009-10 and 2013-14.

The service cost the trust £19,881 in 2009-10 and year-on-year spending has steadily increased over the last five years with a £30,430 bill for language assistance recorded last year.

Translation and interpreting services are required for patients who have difficulty speaking, hearing or understanding English.

Other languages which had high numbers of patients requiring translation during the period include Punjabi, Cantonese, Russian, Hungarian, Kurdish, Mandarin and Latvian.

East Staffordshire Racial Equality Council director Amir Kabal (inset) said the money spent on the service should be seen as an investment.

He said: "Not having the service would cause more problems and cost even more.

"Imagine the problems it could cause if a patient couldn't communicate with the doctor.

"Where there is a need for it, a proper interpreter should always be provided."

Michelle Clerc, patient and public engagement advisor at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are committed to ensuring that patients and visitors receive the best possible care and service.

"To do this we need to ensure that all sections of the community that we serve can access our services equally by providing translation and interpreting services for people who do not speak, understand or read English and by understanding and supporting the diverse communication needs of people with disabilities."

(Burton Mail)