Introduction

Translation technology company Pocketalk has introduced an innovative app designed for use on Zebra Technologies mobile devices, including computers, tablets, and kiosks, commonly found in healthcare environments.

Key Features of the Pocketalk Enterprise App

• Enables frontline healthcare workers to translate conversations and documents, such as prescriptions, using the device’s camera function.
• Supports translation in over 92 languages, including various minority languages and dialects.
• Aims to reduce reliance on traditional solutions that are often time-consuming and costly for healthcare institutions.

Integration Goals

This integration, completed in June 2025, is intended to streamline communication processes and save healthcare facilities significant costs associated with existing translation methods.

Comments from Pocketalk’s General Manager

Jess O’Dwyer, General Manager at Pocketalk, stated:

“Integrating with Zebra’s devices means Pocketalk is now more than a handheld translator — it’s a scalable, multilingual communication platform, trusted across care settings and designed for the real-world needs of modern healthcare.”

Addressing Language Barriers

O’Dwyer emphasized the importance of seamless communication for patients who do not speak English as their first language, noting:

“In London alone, it is estimated that over 300 languages are spoken, including minority languages that aren’t always covered by existing solutions, such as human interpreters.”

Urgency for Translation Services

The need for immediate translation services in healthcare has become increasingly critical. O’Dwyer added:

“This new collaborative solution means communication in healthcare is equitable for all. Proven, safe, and efficient tools need to be as readily accessible as any other healthcare tool used to support and elevate patient care.”

Recent NHS Framework Insights

The NHS Improvement Framework, published on May 27, 2025, highlights that digital exclusion can hinder access to NHS services for approximately one million individuals in the UK who struggle with English.

Need for Diverse Solutions

O’Dwyer further noted:

“We need a spectrum of solutions – human and digital – to ensure the right tool is applied to the right scenario. This flexibility is essential to address safeguarding concerns, reduce delays, prevent unnecessary overspend, and offer better, patient-centric care.”

Adoption of Technology

Zebra’s technology is already in use by various NHS trusts, including Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. Meanwhile, Pocketalk is utilized by over 25 NHS and 30 Irish hospitals and primary care networks.

Real-World Validation Study

Pocketalk’s handheld translation device was tested across a network of eight GP surgeries in Southampton from April to August 2024. Feedback from this pilot indicated:

• 100% of patients who used Pocketalk trusted it enough to use it again.
• 93% found it easy to use.
• 83% preferred it over traditional telephone-based language interpretation systems.

Conclusion

This partnership between Pocketalk and Zebra Technologies marks a significant advancement in healthcare communication, aiming to bridge language gaps and enhance patient care across diverse populations.