Table 3

Easier registration with support-

"First time my English was bad, they didn't listen us because they said they no understand me and no translator. Have to find friend to bring me and explain what's problem". (5)

Shopping around to find a GP-

"My husband's GP say they can't register me because I'm an asylum seeker...I had to move ... [In the new GP] they didn't ask me questions like the other one" (7)

Unreliability of family as interpreters in emergency consultations-

"My sister has got the children but she can not come all the time" (9)

Views on use of male interpreters by women

"It doesn't make any difference to me."(9)

Use of family as interpreters-

"It's my daughter...my personal – I don't have secrets from my children... [they] know everything..." (10)

Cultural influences on views on interpreters-

"I don't like to talk to her [interpreter] because you know we fight in Somalia. ... That clan and that clan.... But I don't know who this lady is so I don't like to say that" (1)

Use of dictionaries as an aid to communication-

"People no understand Italian, but I buy dictionary, Somali and English. If I talk someone, I look in dictionary and after I speak a bit" (10)

Change in help seeking behaviour-

"Sometimes I feel they'll be fed up with me, especially a foreigner you know... [If] I don't like this medication, it's like I'm bothering them or so, so I don't go back to tell the doctor." (11)