Language & Cultural Support
The Health Advocacy Service
The NHS Health Advocacy Service aims to promote appropriate access to primary care services and preventive health initiatives to Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) communities and new migrants in Oxfordshire.
The Health Advocacy team is a group of specialists from different cultures who can speak several languages between them. Their role is to help people to access health services and act as a link between health professionals and the public, promoting understanding of cultural issues.
The Health Advocates undertake a range of different activities, for example they may accompany a person to a GP or hospital appointment; work with community groups on health improvement initiatives; support other services such as diabetes education sessions and call or visit clients in their homes. In addition, the Health Advocates advise health professionals on cultural issues, support training events and work on public health initiatives such as promoting screening services or smoking cessation to the various ethnic communities.
For appointments or advice, the service can be contacted directly by the public or by health professionals. A team of Health Advocates is based in Oxford city and can work county wide:
Contact the service on: 01865 265083 or Health.AdvocacyService@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk
A Minorities Liaison Officer works specifically in the Banbury locality and can be contacted on: 01295 819122 or robina.zafar@oxfordshirepct.nhs.uk
Interpreting Services
NHS Oxfordshire's interpreting service aims to provide comprehensive and professional language support and interpretation to users in Oxfordshire in order to:
- Improve access to health services for service users who have language needs.
- Ensure effective and equal communication between service users, whose first language is not English and Health Professionals.
Interpretation is available free of charge in all languages. If you, or anyone you know, needs an interpreter please let your GP practice or health worker know so that they can arrange it for you.
Publications produced by NHS Oxfordshire can be made available in large print, Braille or audiotape as well different languages. Please contact Patient Advise and Liaison Service freephone 0800 052 6088.