Sunday 9 September 2007

Immigrants sent to front of hospital queues

Immigrants who can't speak English are being sent to the FRONT of NHS out-patient queues...while locals are left waiting in clinics for hours. Patients who need interpreters are being given priority by hospital trusts—because bosses reckon it's cheaper than having costly translators hanging about. It means that at busy times non-English speakers are instantly shunted to the front of the queue. But the policy has infuriated patients' groups, who claim it shows ordinary Britons are being discriminated against. At one outpatient clinic—the London Chest Hospital, at Bethnal Green in the East End— signs clearly warn visitors: "Patients needing trust interpreters will be given priority." Locals are outraged at the move by London and Barts NHS Trust, which runs the Chest Hospital. One said: "It should be a case that those in most need go first—not because of what language they may or may not speak. "Having to wait longer just adds to people's stress and anxiety, when they are already under a lot of pressure." Another added: "I don't understand why needing someone to translate for you should make you any more important. It's a very unfair system." But Michael Summers, vice-chairman of the trust's Patients' Association, said: "There are always long queues for outpatient services, sometimes as much as four hours, and hospitals don't want to have to keep paying a translator for all that time. "At the same time, I can appreciate why patients become irritated by this." Trust spokeswoman Marie Mangan said: "Like most NHS Trusts, when a clinic is over-running every effort is made to ensure that those patients who are using trust interpreters are seen at their allotted appointment time." The policy comes after a major government report revealed how so-called health tourism costs the NHS more than £62MILLION a year, more than half of which is never recovered. Recent figures also show that a staggering £100MILLION is being spent every year on translators in the public sector. Anti-waste group The Taxpayers' Alliance said: "It's rubbing salt in the wound when people see the NHS struggling— and at same time, the British taxpayers who fund it are never being put first."

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

oh the irony. roy west comes in the hospital with a big shiner and has to cue behind a load of newcomers but at least the newcomers would be hear to work and not to sponge of the state like someone i could i mention

Anonymous said...

Hey, Cllr Taylor you have been living off the taxpayer for over 20 years being a Labour dead beat.

Anonymous said...

Mr Wag, why do you hide behind your wife, and with all that CCTV out side your house. Have you got your mob out this week in Duki? Are these no hopers your new bodyguards then? Are those nasty skinheads still following you around Dukinfield?

Anonymous said...

This story is further evidence, if any were needed, that the indigenous people of Britain are becoming second-class citizens in their own country.

Anonymous said...

Ex Para

NCB, read this article from The Telegraph showing the way these warmongering traitors in the Labour party allow our injured troops to be accosted by Muslims while in British hospitals. You will be angry after reading this.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/02/ntroops02.xml

Anonymous said...

I see that cllr Taylor's motor car has a number plate [ WAG ] are you pleased with yourself that you never went to school Mr Taylor?

Anonymous said...

Anyone read the Sun today about immigrants sending all the money that they make back to the old country.

Anonymous said...

We need more comments on this please.