Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (NHFT) has today announced its partnership with CardMedic, a digital app designed to improve communication between healthcare staff and patients with language or communication barriers.
The deployment of CardMedic will initially focus on the Trust’s maternity services, with plans to expand to outpatients and the emergency department later in the year. This new tool provides staff with immediate access to clinically interpreted scripts for use in healthcare conversations, allowing for quicker, more effective conversations with patients who do not speak English as a first language or require British Sign Language.
Mike Smith, General Manager at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said: “Our goal is to ensure every patient feels included in their care, regardless of language or communication needs. CardMedic allows our clinical teams to deliver personalised care in urgent situations, preserving the sanctity of the consent process and helping patients to actively engage with their care. This partnership reinforces Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust’s commitment to delivering truly personalised care by proactively overcoming communication barriers.”
The Trust serves approximately 500,000 outpatient appointments per year and delivers around 3,600 babies annually. In recent years, the proportion of women requiring interpreter support in maternity has increased to about 10%, reflecting a more diverse and transient population, including asylum seekers and refugees. Because of its transient population, NHFT faces the challenge of multiple and changing languages, often with very short notice which is why CardMedic will play a vital role.
Carla Anderson, Public Health Matron – Maternity, Children and Young People at Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust: “It is vital that we address health inequalities. Women who do not speak English as a first language are at higher risk of adverse outcomes in maternity care. CardMedic helps us address these disparities by providing immediate access to clear communication, supporting our Trust’s wider health inequalities agenda.”
Tim Grimaldi, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Cardmedic said: “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to support their mission to deliver truly inclusive care. Reducing health inequalities and ensuring equitable access to high-quality maternity and emergency services is critical, and we’re honoured that CardMedic can play a part in breaking down communication barriers. Every patient deserves to be heard and understood, regardless of language or background, and we look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will bring to families and communities across Northumbria.”
