Cancer diagnosis ‘delayed by colour of skin’, patients say

iAssist-Ni said while there were some interpreters in the system, there were not enough and Mr Eguaogia called on the Department of Health to provide more.

He recalled one incident where a woman was about to be discharged from hospital without understanding the implications of her diagnosis and available care until his organisation intervened.

In a different part of Belfast, Amanda Suka, 43, is living with stage four cancer.

Amanda came to Northern Ireland in 2006, but developed breast cancer and was successfully treated in the South Eastern Health Trust.

While Amanda said her treatment for breast cancer was “excellent”, she said if patients had language difficulties, an interpreter must be present throughout their journey in hospital.

Amanda is now terminally ill after her cancer spread.

She told BBC News NI that there were a few times when the health system let her down due to what she says were “language barriers”.

While she did not request an interpreter when asked on a form, Ms Suka said other patients need to completely understand what consultants are telling them – as it could be a matter of life and death.

She said others often feel embarrassed about asking for an interpreter and when they turn up at the hospital it is too late to have one present.