Health Links
Language and Cultural Support for Healthcare
Health Links helps people in Bristol who speak English as a second language and may experience difficulties accessing healthcare because of language or cultural barriers.
The service provides interpreting, language support and advocacy to help individuals, families and healthcare professionals communicate effectively and access the care they need.
Who Is Health Links For?
Health Links supports:
- Adults, children and families whose first language is not English.
- People experiencing language or cultural barriers when accessing healthcare.
- Healthcare professionals who require interpreting or cultural support for patients.
The service is available across Bristol and the surrounding area.
Languages We Support
Our in-house Link Workers speak a range of languages including:
- Arabic
- Bengali
- Sylheti
- Cantonese
- Mandarin
- Hindi
- Punjabi
- Somali
- Urdu
- Polish
- Romanian
Additional support may be available depending on individual needs.
What We Do
Health Links aims to improve access to healthcare by providing:
- Interpreting services
- Language support
- Advocacy
- Cultural support
- Translation of written materials
We help individuals better understand healthcare information and support healthcare professionals in communicating effectively with people from diverse communities.
Interpreting Services
Our Link Workers act as a bridge between healthcare professionals and patients.
Support can be provided through:
- Face-to-face interpreting
- Video consultations
- Three-way telephone calls
- Home visits alongside healthcare professionals
- Interpreting within some Bristol GP practices
The team can also help people access remote interpreting services where required.
Supporting Communities
Health Links is committed to reducing inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes.
We do this by:
- Helping overcome language barriers
- Supporting cultural understanding
- Promoting awareness of health issues
- Educating communities about healthcare services
- Signposting people to appropriate support
- Helping healthcare professionals engage with diverse communities
- Identifying culturally sensitive issues that may affect care
Our team has extensive knowledge of Bristol’s diverse communities and the challenges they may face when accessing healthcare.
How to Access the Service
Anyone can access the service by completing a referral form.
If you have questions about the service or would like further information, please contact the Health Links team using the details below.
Meet Our Link Workers
Ameira Hassan
Languages: Arabic and Somali
Working Hours: Monday to Friday
Telephone: 07392 193983
Email: ameirahassan@nhs.net
Shahnaz Chowdhury
Languages: Bengali and Sylheti
Working Days: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Telephone: 07789 505312
Email: shahnaz.chowdhury@nhs.net
Shazadi Ilyas
Languages: Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu
Working Days: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday
Telephone: 07833 289473
Email: shazadi.ilyas@nhs.net
Asiyah Jawaid
Languages: Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi
Working Days: Monday, Thursday and Friday
Telephone: 07967 852237
Email: asiyah.jawaid1@nhs.net
Usman Atique
Languages: Urdu, Hindi and Punjabi
Working Days: Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
Telephone: 07866 997466
Email: usman.atique@nhs.net
Lech Wrobel
Languages: Polish
Working Days: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Telephone: 07469 501348
Email: lech.wrobel@nhs.net
Luiza Ciobanu
Languages: Romanian
Working Days: Monday to Thursday
Telephone: 07747 277515
Email: luiza.ciobanu@nhs.net
Samira Farah
Languages: Somali and Arabic
Working Days: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday
Telephone: 07880 142099
Email: samira.farah@nhs.net
Ayaan Mohamed
Languages: Somali
Working Days: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Telephone: 07557 158462
Email: ayaan.mohamed4@nhs.net
Need Language or Cultural Support?
Health Links is here to help people access healthcare with confidence by providing professional language, interpreting and cultural support services across Bristol.
