Acolad Wins Key NHS Interpreting Framework for UK Healthcare

Acolad has been named for the new NHS Shared Business Services (NHS SBS) Interpretation and Translation Framework. This means NHS trusts and public bodies now have streamlined access to our full range of language and content services, with a special focus on interpreting solutions for healthcare.

Securing a place on this framework isn’t just a win. It’s confirmation of our commitment to improving accessibility and clear multilingual communication in healthcare. It also highlights our role in supporting the UK's public sector.

Why Our Interpreting Solutions Matter to Healthcare

Effective communication is essential for patient safety and high-quality care. Our appointment to all six lots of the NHS SBS framework emphasises how our services are built to tackle language barriers head-on.

Our interpreting solutions ensure patients and the public can communicate clearly, promoting inclusion and supporting access to essential services. We cover every need, meaning our partners get a complete language support system:

Face-to-Face (Spoken Language): In-person, consecutive interpreting for diverse medical settings.
British Sign Language (BSL): Certified sign language interpreters to ensure inclusive communication for the Deaf community.
Over-the-Phone and Video Interpreting: Providing quick access to a language expert, on-demand or pre-booked, for remote communication.
Managed Service (One-Stop-Shop): An end-to-end model for complete multilingual support.

"The NHS is one of the most respected public institutions in the world. Helping its teams communicate clearly and inclusively is something we take pride in. This milestone strengthens our momentum in the UK public sector and reinforces our role in supporting essential services."

Chris Stypula, Head of UK Sales, Acolad

Trust Built on Expertise and Certified Standards

In demanding healthcare environments, accuracy and compliance are critical. Our interpreting services are backed by processes designed to build trust and ensure maximum protection:

Certified Processes: Our interpreting services comply with rigorous international quality and security standards, including ISO 9001 (Quality Assurance), ISO 27001 (Information Security), ISO 18841 (Interpreting Services), and ISO 21998 (Healthcare Interpreting Services).
Industry-Specific Expertise: We have extensive public sector experience, and our specialist healthcare interpreters are experts in facilitating communication between providers and patients, understanding the specific needs of medical and patient care settings.
Absolute Confidentiality: Our project teams and professional interpreters adhere to strict Codes of Ethics and Conduct, prioritising patient data security and privacy.
People-Powered Excellence: We actively invest in our global network through the Acolad Academy – our accredited training institution – ensuring continuous professional development for our linguists and interpreters.

By combining experienced, specialised interpreters with certified processes, Acolad remains focused on making interpreting more accessible than ever before, fostering positive outcomes for public institutions and patients across the UK.