Funding Approved For Hampshire Healthcare Translators
Funding worth £10,000 has been approved in Hampshire to help former Gurkhas and their families who have settled in the Rushmoor area.
The money, which has been allocated by Hampshire County Council, will be used to teach 20 people from the Nepalese community to speak English in a bid to help people who have settled in the area since the Government announced plans to allow former Gurkhas and their families to live in Britain.
The interpreters will be used in health and dental centres, including GP surgeries, opticians and dental practices, to allow members of the Nepalese community to access health and dental care without having to worry about the language barrier.
The decision to find the project comes after doctors, dentists and health professionals reported an increase in the number of Nepalese patients in Rushmoor.
Frank Rust, member of Rushmoor Borough Council, said that the grant would make a positive difference to the new members of the community, as well as the health and dental staff who care for them.
Mr Rust said that it is well documented that there has been an influx of Nepalese people into the area in recent years and this has increased pressure on services, especially health and dental care. The funding will help to alleviate pressure and enable health workers to do their job effectively and local people to access the treatments and services they need.
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