§ Mr. DismoreTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what services the NHS provides to meet the language needs of the Chinese community in Barnet. [45313]
§ Mr. HuttonThe NHS Plan signals that a key part of modernising the NHS and Personal Social Services is the need to be more responsive to black and minority ethnic groups, and to provide services for each individual which take account of their religious, cultural and linguistic requirements.
Barnet primary care trust (PCT) is already beginning to address the health needs of its diverse local communities. The PCT have established an Inequalities Group which meet frequently and feed into the health improvement programme.
Interpreting services for people attending general practitioners surgeries in Barnet, including the Chinese community, are managed and provided through the Linkworker service at Barnet and Chase Farm hospitals. All GP surgeries are aware of the arrangements for accessing these services and posters and circulars are provided for communications purposes. Interpreting services for clinics and health centres in Barnet are managed and provided through the PCT. The manager for these services is based at Edgware community hospital.