Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they have provided guidanceto GP practices about the responsibility to provide personal protect equipment to public service interpreters who are needed for face-to-face patient appointments; and if not, what plans they have to provide such guidance immediately.

We expect personal protective equipment (PPE) to be made available for interpreters working across any healthcare setting, including in general practice, when delivering face to face services. Public Health England publish extensive guidance on infection prevention and control which sets out the PPE that should be used when providing clinical/personal care. The standard operating procedures issued to general practice reference this guidance and also sets out additional guidance on the provision of services to people requiring interpreters and/or translation provision.