Interpreting Services

A 24-hour service is available through wards/departments for those patients who require it. Bookings are made through ward/department staff on behalf of the patient.

For general practices and their patients

Te Toka Tumai Auckland Interpreting and Translation Services (ITS) is the provider for all general practices in our area.

Practices can access free interpreting services for all non-English or limited-English speaking patients who are eligible for publicly funded healthcare in New Zealand. However, ACC-funded patients are not included.

Telephone interpreting is the preferred medium and interpreters can be used for all consultations except for those involving:

• Consultations taking more than 45 minutes.
• Exercising of powers under the Mental Health Act.
• Sign language interpreting (note this is a different service, see below).
• Collecting a comprehensive health history.
• Discussing complex medical issues.
• Informed consent for surgical procedures and procedures under local anaesthesia.
• Appointments for primary care early interventions such as vaccinations, B4 School Checks, breast screening and retinal screening.
• Appointments for refugee and asylum seeker clients who have been in New Zealand for two years or less.

THE INTERPRETER SERVICE FOR GPS AND THEIR PATIENTS IS OPEN FROM 8AM – 4.30PM.

FOR ALL ENQUIRES AND BOOKINGS, PLEASE PHONE 09 623 6453, OR EMAIL:   

TO ACCESS TELEPHONE INTERPRETING, PLEASE CALL 0800 559 555. 

Communication cards

Communication cards can be used in conjunction with interpreter services to help patients who may not speak English as a first language and who may be having difficulty communicating their immediate needs, wants or concerns. 

How do they work?
Our hospital staff can provide printed copies of the cards in the language spoken by the patient for use while they are receiving care in hospital. Patients or their family members can also choose to print off a copy of the cards at home to bring with them. Cards should remain with the patient for use at their bedside during their stay. Patients and their families can point to the relevant icons to help the patient communicate immediate needs or wants with hospital staff. 

After discharge, patients can take the cards home with them and continue using them if needed - or dispose of the cards in recycling bins if they're no longer needed.

The cards are available in the languages below. A blank* version is available for family members or friends to write in the translations for languages not represented here:

ARABIC [PDF, 329 KB] | BLANK [PDF, 87 KB]* | BURMESE [PDF, 11 MB] | CHINESE (SIMPLIFIED) [PDF, 107 KB] | CHINESE (TRADITIONAL) [PDF, 111 KB] | ENGLISH [PDF, 1.5 MB] | FRENCH [PDF, 89 KB] | HINDI [PDF, 331 KB] | KOREAN [PDF, 103 KB] | Māori[PDF, 88 KB] | RUSSIAN [PDF, 98 KB] | SAMOAN [PDF, 88 KB] | TONGAN [PDF, 89 KB] | VIETNAMESE [PDF, 91 KB]