ISO 21998 Re-Certification: Continued Approval for Healthcare Interpreting at Word360

Word360 has successfully achieved re-certification for their ISO 21998 audit, securing continued commitment to the international standard for healthcare interpreting services. This achievement reinforces our commitment to delivering safe, equitable and high‑quality communication across NHS and public sector settings.

ISO 21998 sets out the global requirements for both spoken and signed communication in clinical environments. It ensures interpreting is accurate, culturally appropriate, clinically safe and accessible for all patients.

Key Areas of ISO 21998

• Competence Requirements – linguistic proficiency, medical terminology, intercultural awareness and patient‑safety competence.
• Qualifications & Authorisation – verified training, professional standards and ongoing development.
• Service Delivery – safe interpreting across face‑to‑face, remote and hybrid settings.
• Interpreter Wellbeing – recognition of emotional load, trauma exposure and safe working conditions.

Why This Certification Matters

These core areas form the foundation of safe, effective and accessible communication in healthcare -and they reflect the standards our linguists uphold every day.

Continued ISO 21998 certification provides:

• Reassurance for NHS partners that our interpreting services meet international standards for safety, quality and accessibility.
• Confidence for patients that communication is accurate, culturally sensitive and delivered by qualified professionals.
• Recognition for our linguists who uphold these standards through every interaction.
• A commitment to continuous improvement, ensuring our services evolve with changing healthcare needs.

This milestone highlights the professionalism and dedication of our teams and linguists and reinforces Word360’s ongoing commitment to delivering trusted, high‑quality communication for every patient and partner we support.