Hospital trusts are spending up to £600 a day on translators to communicate with patients who can’t understand English.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust spent around £215,000 last year on translation and interpreting costs.

Translation costs for the trust trebled compared to a year earlier – although officials said this was more a reflection on changes to the way costs were recorded than any increase in the use or cost of translators.

A breakdown for 2009/10 reveals language experts had to be brought in on average ten times a day by the trust at Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton and Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath.

Arabic-speaking translators were required on almost 1,000 occasions in 12 months.

Other less well-known languages in demand were West African language Twi, which was used 41 times, Kurdish Soriani, requested 45 times, and Swahili, used six times.

Brighton and Hove PCT expects to spend more than £150,000 this year on translators – a 10% increase in costs compared to 2010.

The trust also spends a further £1,000 a year translating leaflets and other publications.

East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust spent £23,000 in 2010/11.

The trust has a register of staff who can speak different languages and volunteer to translate for patients and their families.

A spokeswoman for NHS Sussex said: “These vital interpreting services ensure that people with disabilities or from diverse communities can get the healthcare they need.

“They also assist both patients and clinicians by helping to promote speedy and accurate diagnosis.”