| Notes |
I want to tell you a story about a remarkable company that has provided help to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people, and hassaved the lives of hundreds of others in the United Kingdom over the pastfifteen years. The company is called Language Line. The concept is simple as is so often the case with organisations that make a real difference.Michael Young, the founder of what is now the Young Foundation, spent almost all his working life in Bethnal Green in East London. On one occasion he had to go to the London Hospital because he had a heart complaint. While he was waiting, he noticed that there were large numbers of patients, mainly of South Asia origin, who were having considerable difficulty communicatingwith the medical staff because of language.Though ad hoc interpreters, maybe cleaners or kitchen staff, were found who could help out, sometimes patients were asked to return on another day when a professional interpreter could be provided. Neither of these arrangements was satisfactory.This lead him to wonderwhat else might be done to provide for better and quicker communication between patients and staff. Hisidea was to provide access to language interpreters over the telephone. In its earliest form, the telephone handset was simply passed between doctor and patient and the remote interpreter translated what was said. So no special equipment was needed and the initial service set up very quickly. Michael Young was able to obtain a small grant from part of the Government to test this concept.Initially just four languages were provided and the service was free to users.It was an instant success. |