Word360 Launches Wondaa, an AI Interpreter Improving Multilingual Communication Across the NHS

New platform combines AI translation with clinically developed phrase libraries to help address language barriers in patient care

Birmingham, UK – 31st March 2026 – Word360, has announced the launch of Wondaa, a healthcare-focused AI interpreter App developed to support communication between clinicians and patients who do not share a common language.

Language barriers continue to create operational pressure and safety challenges across healthcare settings. According to NHS England’s Community Language Translation and Interpreting Improvement Framework, around one million people in the UK are unable to speak English well or at all, and inconsistent access to language support can prevent people from fully engaging with the care they need. 

Accessing professional interpreters can take time, particularly in emergency situations or out of hours, contributing to delays within already stretched systems. NHS England has acknowledged that provision of translation and interpreting services remains variable across trusts and integrated care systems, despite legal duties to provide accessible communication.

Wondaa has been designed to assist frontline teams with immediate multilingual communication for conversations that ‘don’t happen that should happen’ such as everyday conversations. The app provides real-time, two-way voice translation in more than 100 community languages, with both audio and on-screen text to support clarity and accessibility.

Developed for Healthcare Environments

Unlike consumer translation tools, Wondaa AI has been built specifically around healthcare workflows. It combines conversational AI with pre-configured clinical phrase libraries developed in collaboration with clinical linguists and healthcare professionals.

These phrase packs reflect common care scenarios, including maternity and emergency settings, and are designed to support structured, clinically appropriate communication such as for Marthas Rule. The platform operates within secure, compliant infrastructure developed with NHS governance standards in mind.

Wondaa AI is intended to support routine interactions such as welcoming patients, confirming details, giving standard instructions and managing appointments. By assisting with these exchanges, organisations may be able to reduce delays and make more effective use of professional interpreters for complex or sensitive clinical conversations.

The system integrates with Word360’s existing interpreting services, enabling staff to escalate directly to a qualified interpreter when required.

Word360 worked closely with teams at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust during the development of Wondaa, drawing on their experience of applying AI in clinical settings. The Trust has previously explored the use of ambient voice technology to support the creation of structured clinical documentation, which is then reviewed and validated by clinicians. This experience has helped inform approaches to safe and responsible AI adoption within frontline care.

Garry Perry, Associate Director Patient Voice (Experience) at Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust and The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, said:
“Good communication is fundamental to patient safety, care quality and trust. Strong clinician–patient communication improves outcomes and reduces costs, making it central to high-performing NHS services.

Tools like Wondaa have the potential to reduce administrative pressure, improve access to care and support more effective communication with patients. However, it is important that AI is used alongside, not instead of, professional interpreters. Interpreters remain essential for complex, emotional and high-risk conversations where accuracy and nuance are critical. The future is likely to be a hybrid model that combines both.”

Speaking of the launch of Wondaa, Kavita Parmar, Co Founder and CCO of Word360, added: “Clear communication is fundamental to safe and equitable healthcare. When patients and clinicians cannot understand each other, it can affect confidence, outcomes and experience. Wondaa has been developed with clinical input for the conversations that don’t happen, but should, while ensuring professional interpreters remain central to clinical communication. Responsible use of AI in healthcare depends on governance, oversight and clear boundaries, and that has guided our approach.”

Visit https://www.word360.co.uk/ for more information.