Key Points

Please take a moment to review these points, reflect on their significance and consider how they apply to your own experiences.

Tick to confirm (optional):

• Prefer professional interpreters to protect confidentiality and accuracy; use family members only when necessary and arrange follow-up professional support.
• Direct questions and body language to the patient rather than the accompanying relative to maintain the patient's voice.
• Use short, simple sentences, avoid jargon, and support explanations with diagrams, demonstrations or written materials.
• Confirm comprehension with teach-back, asking the patient (not the relative) to explain key points in their own words.
• Document clearly when a family member acted as interpreter, note any limitations and whether professional interpretation was offered.
• Face D/deaf patients directly, keep lips visible, and avoid turning away when speaking.
• Speak slightly slower with clear articulation (without shouting), and supplement speech with large-print notes or diagrams.
• Position the computer or alternate between documenting and explaining to preserve eye contact and avoid excluding lip-readers.
• Check understanding regularly and ask patients to summarise key actions or follow-up steps.
• Make reasonable adjustments to ensure autonomy, avoid exclusion and reduce risks from misunderstanding.