Learn a Language and make a difference to patient care
February 20, 2018
Colleagues are being offered the opportunity to learn a language in an effort to support each other and our patients to breakdown communication barriers and improve our patients’ experience. For patients, being in hospital on their own and being unable to communicate unless an interpreter is present may feel very isolating and cause additional stress and worry. Having someone speak a little of their language to ask “do you want a cup of tea” or “the shower is this way” or just to say “hi” and be a friendly face can make a real difference in how our patients experience our services.
The learn a language programme can be delivered flexibly to suit the needs of employees. We have had a good response to the Heartbeat article and will be reviewing requests in the next few weeks.
If you haven’t yet responded but would like to be considered, please email or write a short paragraph explaining the language you would be interested in learning, where you work and how you think this would help patients to the below by Friday 23 February.
Email – bethan.downing1@nhs.net
Write to – Bethan Downing, Deputy Director OD & Learning, 2nd Floor, Trinity House, Sandwell Hospital.