Deaf patient went three days without an interpreter at Helsinki hospital

Minna Saari spent three days at Meilahti Hospital in Helsinki without a sign-language interpreter, leaving her to communicate with staff in writing, Yle reports. A Finnish Sign Language interpreter arrived only on the day she was discharged.

Saari injured her leg in late August and needed surgery. Finnish Sign Language is her first language. She told Svenska Yle that she needed an interpreter to understand information about her treatment, medication and surgery.

“I was confused by the medication and the anaesthesia. Who has the energy to start writing whole sentences?” Saari said.

At the urging of friends, she contacted an interpreter who helps in emergencies remotely. But no doctor was present when she reached the interpreter, so many of her questions went unanswered. Saari eventually arranged an interpreter herself through Kela, Finland’s social insurance institution.

The Finnish Association of the Deaf says similar cases are not uncommon. Its special adviser Marika Rönnberg told Svenska Yle that healthcare providers, including the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (HUS), can struggle to determine whether they or Kela are responsible for arranging interpretation.

HUS said it was sorry and that care had not been delivered as intended if Saari went three days without an interpreter. Her case is being handled by the HUS patient ombudsman. Administrative chief physician Veli-Matti Ulander did not comment on the specific case, but said staff are expected to assess the need for an interpreter at each appointment and ensure patients understand information about their health.

Ulander said arranging an interpreter can take longer during emergency care, or one may not be available. In those situations, staff should communicate with patients using other available methods.