The Experience of Welsh Speakers in Health and Social Care Services – Important Research

The Welsh Assembly Government and the Care Council for Wales are keen to hear from Welsh speakers about their experience of health and social care services. They have commissioned a team of researchers from the Welsh Centre for Language Planning to do the work.

“The results of this important research will be used to identify priorities,” says Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services, “They will drive forward improvements to services by the end of this year.”

Researchers are keen to speak with patients, service users and carers to find out more about their experience. Was it easy to receive a Welsh-medium service or were there obstacles? What effect did this have? Were they happy with the service they received or do they have suggestions about ways of improving services?

“For many people such as children, older people, users of mental health services and others, Welsh language services are a matter of need rather than choice,” says the Deputy Minister. “Very often, it’s only through the medium of their first language that they can be treated effectively.”

And this is why researchers are keen to hear about experiences relating to children (including speech and language therapy), older people, people with mental health problems (including dementia), and people with learning disabilities.

“We wish to hear from users and carers in these areas and hope very much that they will contact us,” says Elaine Davies, who leads the research team. “People will be able to take part in the research through face to face interviews or through pre-arranged phone interviews and they are also welcome to submit written evidence – whatever suits them best. We hope very much to have responses from people right across Wales. All information will be handled with complete confidentiality.”

This is an important opportunity to influence policy and to strengthen Welsh medium health and social care services. “I welcome this research and I urge Welsh speakers to take part”, says Gwenda Thomas “It’s very important that we listen to the voice of health and social care service users and that we understand their need for Welsh medium services.”

For further information, please contact either Elaine Davies on 01239 711668  (elaine.davies@iaith.eu)  or Elin Mair on 01239 711668 (elin.mair@iaith.eu)

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