Implementing the evidence for language appropriate healthcare systems: the Welsh context.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Like Canada, Wales, UK is a bilingual nation: the Welsh language is an important part of its national identity and legislative
framework. This has
implications for the delivery of public sector services, particularly in the context of health and social care, where respondin
g to the language needs of
service users is fundamental to quality health care provision. Nevertheless, despite the strengthening policy commitment for a
whole-system approach
towards enhancing Welsh language services, there is a paucity of evidence to guide best practice in organizational planning in
health care settings.
This commentary outlines the context and significance of bilingual health care provision in Wales and the implications for buil
ding and embedding the
evidence base. It calls for further work to translate our knowledge and understanding of language-appropriate practice to provi
de more effective and
sensitive health care services; and to close the implementation gap between evidence and practice. Given the relevance of this
challenge for health care
providers in Canada who plan and deliver services for French-language minorities, this approach has resonance across our resear
ch communities. Thus,
in our common pursuit to establish integrated knowledge translation research for language-appropriate health care systems, this
commentary offers a
focus for reflection, discussion and collaborative action
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | S88-S90. |
Journal | Canadian Journal of Public Health |
Volume | 104 |
Issue number | 6Suppl.1 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2013 |