If English isn’t your main language your health care experience may be improved by having a translator or interpreter.
Please advise us if you wish to use this service as soon as possible, preferably when booking your appointment.
We are supported by the Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Southern in offering interpreter services at Dunedin North Medical Centre for more than 50 languages, including sign language. Interpreter services are free of charge and are available 24/7 to assist wherever health care is needed, at doctor appointments, in hospital, or if you need to see any other health care provider.
Languages interpreters can be provided for are:
Afrikaans, Arabic, Bahasa Indonesia, Cantonese, Chinese, Cook Islands Māori, Dari, Dutch, English, Fijian, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Malayalam, Malaysian, Mandarin, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language, Niuean, Persian, Punjabi, Russian, Samoan, Serbo-Croatian, Sinhala, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, Thai, Tongan, Urdu, and Vietnamese.
If you do not see your language listed, please let us know. We will work with the Interpreter Service and try to help.
The aim of an interpreter is to transfer information between a non-English speaker or someone with limited English to another. Interpretation services are usually provided face-to-face. Where an in-person interpreter is not available, interpretation by video or telephone is arranged.
The Language Line service may be used for this over-the-phone language support.
All interpreter service staff are trained to understand and respect diversity, and many have undertaken additional sign language, cultural and linguistic training.
You can also contact Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Southern Interpreter Services directly to personally arrange an interpreter for your health care appointments.
Phone the Patient Affairs and Enquiries office on 03 474 0999, or email: interpreter@southerndhb.govt.nz
