Translation for HSE and public health bodies
Translation for Ireland's public health sector
We translate patient information leaflets, informed consent forms, health promotion factsheets and official forms for the HSE, hospital groups and health regions, Section 38/39 funded bodies and other public bodies. Irish-first bilingual layouts, accessible formats and campaign deadlines are all in scope, and clinical accuracy is treated as patient safety. A named project manager is your contact from quote to delivery.
We are the language department you do not have to hire. We work inside your workflow, with your terminology, your formats and your deadlines. Public health bodies must communicate with patients in the languages they understand, in Irish and in English. The 2025 HSE framework covers translation, interpretation and audiovisual work across three lots, with quality scored at 100%.
The compliance pressure on public health communications
We deliver bilingual materials Irish-first, with equal prominence, per HSE and OLA guidance. The compliance bar is high and the response windows are short. The Official Languages Act 2003, as amended in 2021, requires signs, forms, mailshots and campaign materials in Irish or bilingual, with Irish first. Translated clinical content is special-category data under GDPR Article 9, protected end to end. Standard PDFs do not meet accessibility law and must not be uploaded to websites; accessible formats are mandatory. Complaints to An Coimisinéir Teanga carry 15-working-day response windows.
Why translation quality is a patient safety matter
We treat clinical accuracy as patient safety. Clinical documents pass through translation, editing and proofreading per ISO 17100, with per-client term bases and a second-translator linguistic review. We have held ISO 9001, ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 certification since 2021.
Inaccurate health material misleads patients, and informed consent must be given in a form and language appropriate to the patient's needs. HSE good-practice guidance expects per-client term bases, cultural review and second-translator linguistic review, and it names ISO 17100 certification as the standard it expects. Where professional interpreting is thin, practices fall back on family members and free machine translation tools. Where machine translation fits, it runs with human clinical review, keeping cost down without the risk.
How we work with public health buyers
Every project runs on an ISO 17100-compliant process. Three separate people work on every document: one prepares it, one translates it, and one proofreads it before delivery, with a second-translator linguistic review.
- Translation, editing and proofreading per ISO 17100
- GDPR-compliant handling of health data: data processing agreement, EU-only handling, secure transfer, audit trail
- Per-client term bases, glossaries and translation memory reuse
- Tagged PDFs, alternative formats and plain-English source review
- Named project manager, fixed scope of work, defined handoffs, one invoice
Framework credentials and standards
We are an HSE Multi Language Translations & Interpretation Services framework participant. The award dates from 2026 and the framework is not yet active. We are also an OGP Irish Language Translation Services framework participant (Lots 1 & 2), and we have been ISO 9001, ISO 17100 and ISO 18587 certified since 2021.
We work the eTenders and mini-competition mechanics, with quality-led bids that compete on process depth. We bring native Irish linguists and Official Languages Act fluency.
How a project runs
A project follows six defined steps. We agree the quote and scope first, then the terminology and glossary. Translation, editing and proofreading follow, then accessible formatting. You receive a delivery package that includes the translation memory, so reuse compounds across your campaigns. Review cycles run with version control across languages, and when source text changes we re-translate rather than patch.
Frequently asked questions
How much does translation for a patient leaflet campaign cost?
Translation for a patient leaflet campaign is scoped per document set and language count. You receive a fixed quote before work starts, and public health work is scoped per project with no surprise line items.
How do you ensure accuracy for clinical content?
Clinical content is translated, edited and proofread per ISO 17100. Per-client term bases keep clinical terms consistent, and a second translator carries out linguistic review. We treat clinical accuracy as patient safety.
Are you on the HSE framework and can our body draw down from you?
We are an HSE Multi Language Translations & Interpretation Services framework participant. The framework was awarded in 2026 and is not yet active. We are also an OGP Irish Language Translation Services framework participant (Lots 1 & 2). We understand eTenders mini-competition mechanics and can explain how your body can nominate us once the framework activates.
Do you translate into Irish (Gaeilge)?
We translate into Irish with native Irish linguists. Output follows Irish-first layout with equal prominence, per OLA and HSE guidance.
How quickly can you turn around a campaign or outbreak pack?
Urgent campaign and outbreak packs can be ready in 48 hours. A dedicated project manager runs the surge lane, and OLA response windows, such as the 15 working days to An Coimisinéir Teanga, are built into the plan.
Are translated health documents treated as confidential?
Translated health documents are special-category data under GDPR Article 9. We sign a data processing agreement and handle data within the EU. Secure transfer and a full audit trail are standard.
Talk to us about your next tender or campaign
Book a no-obligation call. We can discuss framework participation, mini-competition strategy or a specific document set. We speak eTenders and mini-competition mechanics. Use the form to outline your tender or campaign, with your languages and your timeline. We will reply with a scoped plan and a call time.