Medical Documents from Outside the UK

To ensure we provide safe and appropriate care, we can only accept medical documents from outside the UK if they have been translated into English by a professional medical translation service.

Any translated documents must:

• Be translated by an official medical translation company.
• Include the name of the translator.
• Include the translator’s signature and/or the company stamp or official certification.
• Be a complete and accurate translation of the original medical document.

We are unable to accept:

• Documents translated by family members, friends, or other non-professional individuals.
• Documents translated using artificial intelligence (AI) tools or online translation software.
• Translations that do not identify the translator or translation company.
• Documents where the accuracy of the translation cannot be verified.

Accurate translation of medical information is essential for patient safety. Errors or omissions in translated documents can lead to misunderstandings, incorrect diagnoses, delays in treatment, or inappropriate clinical decisions. Requiring professionally translated medical documentation helps protect both patients and our clinical team by ensuring that important medical information is clear, accurate, and reliable.

If you need to submit medical records or reports from another country, please arrange for them to be translated by a recognised medical translation service before sending them to the practice.

The NHS does not fund document translations nor recommend any translation services. Patients are responsible for arranging and funding any required translations. To help you find a suitable provider, you may wish to use the directories maintained by recognised professional bodies, including:

• Institute of Translation and Interpreting (ITI) – directory of qualified professional translators and translation companies.
• Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) – “Find a Linguist” directory of professional translators and interpreters.
• Association of Translation Companies (ATC) – directory of member language service providers and translation companies.

When arranging a translation, we recommend confirming that the provider can supply:

• A full English translation of the original document.
• The translator’s name and qualifications.
• A signed or certified statement confirming the accuracy of the translation.
• An organisation stamp, certification mark, or company letterhead where available.

The practice reserves the right to decline translated documentation where the accuracy, authenticity or professional accreditation of the translation cannot be verified.