Health Care Interpreter Service

TIS as a Backup Service

Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) is a back up service for HCIS.

At times, HCIS is unable to fulfil some requests despite the 50 staff interpreters and over 400 sessional interpreters who combined can speak over 120 languages. This usually happens when a new language emerges that is still not available on the panel, or when a short notice request comes in for a high demand language. When a Health Care Interpreter is not available, HCIS transfers the caller to TIS, which can be used for telephone interpreting only. TIS Interpreters are not engaged by HCIS for on-site interpreting in public health facilities.

LHD users cannot contact TIS directly. They are required to contact HCIS first for all their telephone and on-site interpreting needs. However, this restriction does not apply to other non-

LHD users and the Children’s Hospital at Westmead as they may have their own service level agreements with TIS.