Translation Services

NHS Telephone Interpreting is now available to community pharmacies across NHS Lothian. The interpretation service is run through a company called The Big Word and is free of charge to dial in to from both a landline and a mobile phone. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The service works by dialling the free phone number 0800 757 3053 and then entering an access code for the area your pharmacy is based in, followed by the # key. The access codes you need to use are shown below:

You will then be prompted to enter a PIN which is your 4 digit contractor code.

You will then be asked to enter the code for the language you require. Codes for the commonly requested languages are shown on the attached document where you will also find instructions on how to access any less commonly requested languages. There are over 250 languages and dialects available.

The interpreter you are connected to could be based anywhere in the world and therefore, from time to time, you may experience a short delay in connecting due to time differences.

Once you are connected you should give the interpreter a brief outline of the situation and then continue your conversation with the patient/representative as opposed to the interpreter. Hints and tips for how to get the most out of your call are attached. It is recommended that when possible you have the conversation in a private area to eliminate as much background noise as possible.

• Instructions on how to access the service including codes for commonly requested languages
• A hints and tips guide for making the most of your call
• A language identification chart

Foreign Languages on Dispensing Labels

Just in case you have visits from people whose first language is not English, you can use the Translabel website here (this website is shared and endorsed by CPS) to help you generate labels with common dosage instructions in several common languages including Ukrainian.