NHS organisations in East Lancashire have spent at least £225,000 on translators and interpreters over the past three years.

A health think tank has revealed the NHS in England spends £59,000 a day on translating documents and providing interpreters for patients.

A Freedom of Information request by Health 2020 showed the total topped £23m last year.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust said its spend on these services had increased from £41,433 in 2008/2009 to £45,189 in 2009/10, before reaching £50,235 last year.

In contrast NHS East Lancashire, the primary care trust (PCT) that covers Hyndburn, Ribble Valley, Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, halved its spend from £45,189 to £24,476 last year.

It said this was probably because community-based services transferred to the hospital trust and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust last summer.

NHS Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus, which has also handed over such services to Lancashire Care, said it was unable to provide any figures.

The amount paid to translators was not available either.

The Health 2020 report collected data from 247 NHS trusts.

It said most translated from English into between five and 25 different languages.

It described the amount spent as ‘truly staggering’ and suggested trusts use free internet translation software.

An NHS East Lancs spokesman said it funded around 15-20 patients on average per month to receive ‘language support’.

She said equal access to care was a legal duty for the NHS and a right for patients, adding: "The primary care trust is determined to promote equality of access for all services that it commissions.

"Language support services are offered to the public should they require translation support or sign language provision when using local services, such as their GP, dentist, pharmacy, and optician.

“The Equality and Human Rights Commission, the Care Quality Commission and the Department of Health will not accept financial restraints as an excuse for not providing equal access.”

East Lancashire Hospitals said its costs had risen with inflation and clinical need.

Lynn Wissett, the trust’s deputy chief executive, said: “We treat patients from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds and well use interpreters and translation services based on clinical need and to ensure quality and safety.”