Under the pilot, pharmacy staff can make use of the VOYCE app via iPads in five Boots pharmacies, connecting them and patients to interpreters on-demand, who can translate more than 245 languages, the multiple announced today (August 6).

The branches are located in:

• Donegal Place, Belfast
• High Street, Birmingham
• Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London
• Gallowtree Gate, Leicester
• Above Bar Street, Southampton.

According to the last UK census, there are an estimated 726,000 people in England and Wales who cannot speak English easily, and 138,000 who cannot speak the language at all, the multiple pointed out.

Boots pharmacy director Richard Bradley said the service will “help our pharmacy teams make sure that our patients get the most from their medicines, without language as a barrier”.

The pilot is part of Boots’ wider pharmacy transformation plans, which includes a free online prescription service via the Boots app and website, “express” collection lanes in 600 branches and a prescription locker trial.