NHS Case Study:

Step into the busy HIV clinics at Chelsea & Westminster or the stroke unit at Imperial College London, and a quiet revolution is underway. A clinician speaks in English—clear, calm, and directly to the patient—while the patient, who speaks an entirely different language, listens, understands in real time, and responds. No third party. No context lost. No delays. Just seamless, human connection. The bridge? Aavaaz.

For those on the front lines, the difference is profound. As one clinician and PhD researcher at Imperial College London put it:

“We keep hearing from leadership, ‘Just use the translation phone line,’ but they aren’t on the ground. They don’t see the delays, the logistical issues, the avoidable financial waste—and the equity gap that widens every time interpretation fails. Translation in healthcare is a very real and core problem. Aavaaz addresses that problem head-on and from all sides: patient care, clinician ease, and organization financial savings.”

Aavaaz in Action: Early Impact & Clinician Feedback

Aavaaz, a culturally and contextually adaptive voice-to-voice multilingual platform, is currently being piloted across several leading NHS institutions, including Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and West Middlesex University Hospital. These early implementations are part of a broader effort to bridge communication gaps in clinical care—particularly for patients with limited English proficiency.

Across these sites, clinicians are reporting promising outcomes:

1. Improved ease of care and patient comprehension
2. Enhanced trust and cultural sensitivity during sensitive consultations
3. Increased operational efficiency in urgent, time-critical settings

The Challenge: Gaps in Traditional Interpretation

In initial market research conducted by Aavaaz, clinicians across the NHS reported a familiar yet astounding set of roadblocks when caring for non-English-speaking patients:

1. Limited access to interpreters, especially in real-time or after-hours settings
2. Delays and dependency on third parties, which slow down care delivery
3. Summarized, paraphrased, or completely inaccurate translations, which can miss nuance and compromise clinical accuracy
4. Discomfort during sensitive consultations, particularly when patients fear stigma or community exposure from a translator within their community

As with anything in healthcare, moving beyond the “industry standard” is a laborious—and often frowned upon—process. However, when it affects the core barriers to care, these obstacles lead to fragmented care, diagnostic errors, and diminished trust—and must be solved.

Clinician & Researcher Insights on The Aavaaz Approach

When Aavaaz was conceptually introduced, the validation of this need—and the passion to adopt—was evident. It was a no-brainer for many clinicians to have the option of a lightweight, voice-first tool they could use hands-free and in seconds. Beyond this, as they began using it in real-world situations and experiencing the magic firsthand, the insights reflected the same.

Clinicians noted that patients were more open and forthcoming in sensitive consultations—especially in certain cultures where topics like sexual health, HIV, or maternity care are often taboo, causing fear of stigma or community exposure with a third-party interpreter. In these cases, patients often don’t open up fully or hold back critical clinical information.

Deep Impact Validated by Clinician & Patient Voices

Across NHS sites—including Imperial College London, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, and West Middlesex University Hospital—Aavaaz is quietly making communication feel more human again. It’s innovation at the point of care that’s not flashy or complicated—just reimagined, no-click clinical workflows.

At Imperial College, stroke researchers who tested Aavaaz in multiple languages described it as “transformational”—a tool that could genuinely shift the quality of care, not just the convenience of communication. Meanwhile, innovation leaders at the Trust acknowledged its promise to improve both the patient experience and staff workflow.

Over at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital, one consultant called it a “progressive AI tool,” praising its ability to adapt to human-facing, culturally sensitive situations. A general practitioner who tested it in real time, with a translator in the room, confirmed the same: the patient understood very well, and the interaction flowed naturally.

At departments in West Middlesex Hospital, physicians are already using it in critical care settings, where every second—and every word—matters. They love the hands-free mode—saving both time and money while still delivering the highest quality of patient care.

Behind the technology innovation, something far deeper is happening patients are feeling heard and empowered, clinicians are feeling relieved, and the invisible barriers that have long shaped health inequities are beginning to soften.

Clinician Voices

Imperial College London

“As a clinical research professional, I see Aavaaz as a transformational tool. I have personally tested Aavaaz for multiple languages I am fluent in and found it to be highly accurate. Its seamless translation capabilities have the potential to enhance patient safety, satisfaction, and clinical outcomes.”

Chelsea & Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

“I used Aavaaz for a patient with a translator also in the room to validate. The patient understood the translations very well and their thick accent was also picked up well. I can definitely see its value—the patient understood the responses very well.”

West Middlesex Hospital

“I find it very easy to use and really like the hands-free mode.”

Patient Voice

“This app is truly better than other translators. The way it captures native speech is amazing—a game changer.”

The Financial Case for Equity

The case for Aavaaz isn’t just emotional—it’s economic. From 2019 to 2022, NHS Trusts spent at least £113.9 million on interpreters and translation services, averaging £725,953 per trust that responded to the survey. If all Trusts had submitted data, total spending would be estimated at £174.2 million.

That level of expenditure highlights a system in need of scalable, smarter solutions. Solutions that promote ease and innovation. With Aavaaz, the NHS has a clear opportunity to reduce recurring costs – immediately visible ROI within month one of implementation, saving at minimum 40-50% of current in-line budgets. All of this while still improving direct patient care, cultural safety, and operational flows.
Click here to read the full financial savings summary.

Financial sustainability and return on investment are critical to keeping healthcare systems moving, especially in current NHS climates —but what if we can achieve those financial outcomes while still advancing high-tech equity-driven innovation? That’s the Aavaaz mission.

Looking Ahead

Given the early success, various NHS Trusts are gearing up for deeper partnerships with Aavaaz across their clinical, academic, and research settings. The platform is already showing measurable value—not just in patient experience and care quality, but also in cost reduction and time savings.
At its core, Aavaaz is proving that high-tech innovation can be both affordable and human-first. When built with purpose, equity, and humility, the result isn’t just better communication—it’s better healthcare.