What to change
Explain the different kinds of hours to the language reviewer and preserve those distinctions. Check that the chosen time format preserves the same days, times and exceptions.
A worked example
Illustrative example
A practice has evening appointments but daytime telephone support. The translated page explains each separately, so an evening patient does not infer that reception will answer booking queries throughout the session.
Put it into practice
Ask the reviewer to check each day and time against the original, including any statement about when messages are answered. Someone planning a call should get the same answer whichever language they choose, without needing to compare two versions.
Give translators any temporary closure or holiday notes at the same time as standard hours. Otherwise one language may describe the normal week while another presents the current exception.
What to agree before publishing
Review opening hours as a set of practical facts, not only a paragraph. Confirm each day, time and exception across language versions, including whether the hours describe visiting, telephone support or replies to enquiries. Those may differ. A reader should not infer one from another because a translated heading became too broad. Ask the reviewer to answer a fictional question such as when someone can call on a particular day, then compare that answer with reception's current arrangement.
How to check the result
A reader knows which activity is available during each stated period.
A mistake to avoid
Do not translate every occurrence of open as if it means walk-in access to the building, because the original may refer only to telephone support.
Turn reading into a next step
Your action checklist
Work through these checks with your team or supplier. Tick the ones you have resolved and leave unknowns open.
Record what you know, what is still missing and the answer you need from your team or supplier.
Use project decisions only, without personal, patient or confidential details. Entries stay in this page and are not submitted to Kay & Co. Copy or download before leaving; this page does not save your notes.
Further reading
These sources provide background for the topic. The practice examples and checklist are illustrative planning suggestions from Kay & Co.
Related guides
Need help with this?
Tell us what is getting in the way. Kay & Co. can help you understand the options and turn the next step into something that works for your practice.
Explore websites & patient experience services or discuss your project.
Try the free Healthcare Digital Planner to find your starting priority.