Interpreters and Understanding Your Own Care in an Istanbul Hospital

If you or someone you care for does not speak Turkish or English, the language question can feel bigger than the treatment itself. Many Istanbul hospitals that treat international patients have interpreters and international patient teams, but what is covered, and when, varies. This guide explains what to ask and how to make sure you understand every decision about your care.

Quick answer

Before booking, ask the hospital which languages its interpreters cover and at what hours, including nights and weekends. Use a professional interpreter rather than a relative for consultations, consent and discharge. Ask for your treatment plan, consent form and discharge summary in writing, in a language you read well, and use teach-back to check your understanding. Make requests such as a female doctor early.

How do hospital interpreters work?

Hospitals that treat international patients usually have an international patient department. Its staff often include interpreters or coordinators for the languages their patients speak, which may include English, Arabic, Russian, German and others. The arrangements differ from one hospital to another:

• some interpreters are on site during the day and reachable by phone at night;
• some hospitals use video or telephone interpreting for less common languages;
• some languages are covered only on certain days.

Ask in advance, and in writing:

• Which languages do you cover, and is my language covered by a staff interpreter?
• Will an interpreter be present for the consultation, the consent talk, the procedure day and discharge?
• How do I reach an interpreter at night or at the weekend?
• How do nurses on the ward communicate with patients who do not share their language?

Talking to nurses at night

At night, nurses on the ward may not speak your language. Ask how they communicate: a phone line to an interpreter, a video service, or picture cards for common needs such as pain, thirst or the toilet. A translation app on your phone can help with simple requests, but it should not be used for decisions about treatment, medicines or consent. If a relative can stay with the patient, ask whether that is possible in the room.

Professional interpreter or family member?

A bilingual relative is a comfort and helps with everyday needs. For medical conversations, a professional interpreter is usually the safer choice:

• they know medical terms in both languages;
• they translate everything, including uncomfortable details, rather than softening or leaving things out;
• the patient can speak freely about private matters without a family member deciding what to pass on.

A good arrangement is a professional interpreter for the medical talk, with the relative present for support.

Getting documents in your own language

Ask for important documents in writing, in a language you read well, before treatment starts:

• the treatment plan, describing what is proposed, by whom and where;
• the consent form, with the risks and alternatives explained;
• the discharge summary, with your diagnosis, what was done, your medicines and the follow-up plan.

Translation takes time, so ask early. If a full translation is not available, ask for a written summary in your language and for an interpreter to go through the original with you. Keep copies: your doctor at home will need them.

Consent forms

Sign a consent form only once you understand it. You should know what the procedure involves, its main risks, the alternatives, and what happens if you decide not to go ahead. If anything is unclear, ask for it to be explained again. It is reasonable to take time to read the form, and you can ask for a copy to keep.

How to make sure you understand

Prepare your questions

Write your questions down before each appointment, and bring them in your own language so the interpreter can read them. Useful questions include:

• What is my diagnosis, in plain words?
• What are you proposing, and why?
• What are the risks for me, and the alternatives?
• What should I expect in the days after treatment?
• Which signs mean I should call someone straight away, and whom do I call?
• When can I fly home, and what follow-up do I need there?

Use teach-back

Teach-back is a simple method used in healthcare: after the doctor or nurse explains something, you repeat it back in your own words. For example: "So I take this tablet twice a day after food, and I call you if my temperature rises." If something is missing or wrong, they correct it straight away. It is not a test of you; it checks that the explanation worked.

Before discharge

Ask for the discharge talk to take place with an interpreter present, and ask for the written instructions in your language. Check that you know how to take each medicine, how to care for any wound, which activities to avoid, and how to reach the team after you leave.

Asking for a female doctor or a chaperone

Asking for a female doctor is a reasonable request, and many patients make it for personal, cultural or religious reasons. The key is to ask early and clearly:

• Make the request when you first enquire, not on the day of treatment, so the hospital can plan.
• Ask whether the specialist who would treat you is a woman, and if not, whether a female specialist in the same field is available.
• Ask about the whole team: examinations, nursing and imaging may involve other staff.
• If a female doctor is not available for part of the care, ask for a female chaperone to be present during examinations.

Put the request in writing and keep it polite and simple. In an emergency, the doctor who is available will treat you; the request applies to planned care.

Frequently asked questions

My mother speaks only Russian and needs treatment in Istanbul. Will she be able to talk to nurses at night?

Ask the hospital before booking. Some international patient departments have Russian-speaking staff, but this, and night cover, varies from one hospital to another. Ask whether an interpreter can be reached by phone or video at night, and how ward nurses communicate with patients who do not share their language. If a relative can stay with her in the room, that helps with everyday needs.

How can I make sure I fully understand my diagnosis and discharge instructions?

Write your questions down beforehand, use a professional interpreter for the conversation, and ask for the diagnosis and discharge instructions in writing in your language. After each explanation, repeat it back in your own words, which is called teach-back, so the doctor or nurse can correct anything you have misunderstood. Make sure you know how to take each medicine and whom to call if you are worried.

Should I get the consent form and treatment plan in writing, in my own language, before treatment starts?

Yes, it is sensible to ask. A written plan and consent form in a language you read well let you check the procedure, risks and alternatives at your own pace. Ask early, because translation takes time. If a full translation is not available, ask for a written summary in your language and for an interpreter to go through the original with you before you sign.

My wife would prefer a female doctor. Is it reasonable to ask, and how should we request it?

Yes, it is a reasonable and common request. Make it in writing when you first contact the hospital or coordinator, not on the day of treatment. Ask whether a female specialist in the right field is available, and ask about nurses and other staff involved in examinations. If a female doctor is not available for part of the care, ask for a female chaperone to be present.

Can my son interpret for me instead of a hospital interpreter?

He can help with everyday needs and support you, but for consultations, consent and discharge a professional medical interpreter is usually safer. They know medical terms in both languages and translate everything, including difficult details. You can also speak privately without a family member deciding what to pass on. Many patients have a professional interpreter for the medical talk and their relative in the room for support.