On a busy general medicine ward round, a young woman with CAP speaks little English. The consultant suggests skipping the patient because no interpreter is booked. How should you respond?

On a busy general medicine ward round, a young woman with CAP speaks little English. The consultant suggests skipping the patient because no interpreter is booked. How should you respond?

• A. Skip the patient entirely
• B. Check in with the patient to ensure stability and monitor progress
• C. Try and organise interpreter ASAP, have a chat with registrar to talk to the patient with an interpreter if the consultant is unavailable
• D. If the consultant cannot proceed, simply progress with the rest of the round

Answer: (C)

When a patient has limited English, clear communication is essential for safety and informed decisions. Do not skip the patient or proceed without ensuring they understand what’s being discussed. The best approach is to organise an interpreter as soon as possible. If the consultant is unavailable, involve the registrar to speak with the patient with an interpreter so important information, plans, and consent can be conveyed accurately. In the meantime, check the patient’s stability and ensure monitoring, using plain language and confirming understanding. Rely on professional interpreters (or phone interpreting) rather than leaving the patient out of the discussion, and document the steps taken.

When a patient has limited English, clear communication is essential for safety and informed decisions. Do not skip the patient or proceed without ensuring they understand what’s being discussed. The best approach is to organise an interpreter as soon as possible. If the consultant is unavailable, involve the registrar to speak with the patient with an interpreter so important information, plans, and consent can be conveyed accurately. In the meantime, check the patient’s stability and ensure monitoring, using plain language and confirming understanding. Rely on professional interpreters (or phone interpreting) rather than leaving the patient out of the discussion, and document the steps taken.