The trouble with strung out tests and investigations is that you can't predict at which appointment a diagnosis, and possibly a devastating prognosis, might be delivered. Good point also about reception staff having little English. And French anaesthetists often seem to do things differently. Understanding how you should expect to feel after coming round is awfully important.
Some people do like to assert their rights at the beginning of a process, and I respect that view. But my own feeling is that if I demanded a free translator at reception, implying that I hadn't bothered to learn much French, I could get labelled an uncooperative person from the start - a reputation that could travel around the hospital with me. It probably wouldn't bestow any tangible disadvantage, but in the gloom of feeling ill, I might imagine it was affecting how I was being treated. It's a time when you have to be as positive as you can, and that wouldn't be a great way to start.
Says a reader
Val says - I so agree with that reader, and that is one of the reasons I would personally prefer one of our accompanying translators.
Another thing was raised by a reader this morning which I whole heartily agree with. They said I would use this service even though I have good French just to have someone to go with. You cannot be always asking friends to accompany you, they would soon get fed up, but being able to pay a small fee, not to have to go on my own would be worth a lot.
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