language barrier

There is a facility provided by our PCT that GPs may use called the "language hotline". It purports to be able to get an interpreter of virtually any language on the phone within seconds. In practice, as you might imagine, it is a very different matter. Even with commonly used languages such as Mandarin, Urdu or Farsi, we are informed they will be available "shortly", which often means hours later. Meanwhile there's some poor sap sitting in front of you who needs help now.

Then there is the problem I saw today, where a Pakistani male thought he could speak English, going on the basis that if he says enough English words quickly enough the doctor has a good chance of understanding the problem. Which he doesn't, actually. Plus the man stinks of body odour and clothes that don't look like they've been washed in a couple of years. His English may be limited, but he understood sufficient that when I suggested he might want to wash his clothes and have a nice hot bath before he comes to the surgery next time, he affected deep offence.

But I have to think of the other patients sitting in the waiting room, and having to put up with his stench for many minutes at a time. And I'm not having that. I could be racist about this, but in fact the last time this happened the man concerned was thoroughly Anglo-Saxon. Half an hour later I still had not got the smell of him out of my nose, despite window opening, air freshener and a powerful fan.