Skip to main content

Lockdown rules around hospital admissions need reviewing


We're calling for a review of the lockdown rules regarding hospital patients to ensure that those who need it can have a family member with them during their hospital admission.

Concerns have been expressed that people admitted to hospital who are elderly or have a language barrier are struggling to communicate with healthcare staff, delaying their diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Usually when someone whose main language of communication isn’t English, or who finds it difficult to communicate due to Alzheimer’s or another illness, a family member would be there to help them communicate with doctors and nurses. But under current rules people admitted to hospital cannot have anyone accompany them.

The part claims that providing more flexibility in the rules will reduce the need for external translators, who are current trying to fill the void, and ensure quicker treatment to be delivered, saving lives in the process.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

“Being admitted to hospital can be a scary experience for many people, especially when they find it difficult to communicate with the doctors and nurses doing their best to diagnose and treat them.

“We know that people across Wales already struggle to access healthcare services in their native tongue. There are also people, particularly elderly patients, who struggle to communicate their problems or medical history due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

“That is why the Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for a review of the current isolation rules around hospital patients to allow vulnerable people to have a family member accompany them during their admission.

“This will ensure everyone can receive treatment in a timely and efficient manner, while also reducing the need to hire external translation services and thus freeing up additional resources to be spent on treating more patients.

“I hope the Welsh Government will look at this issue quickly and seriously as the longer we wait, the more people’s lives could be put at risk unnecessarily.”

 

We're calling for a review of the lockdown rules regarding hospital patients to ensure that those who need it can have a family member with them during their hospital admission.

Concerns have been expressed that people admitted to hospital who are elderly or have a language barrier are struggling to communicate with healthcare staff, delaying their diagnosis and subsequent treatment.

Usually when someone whose main language of communication isn’t English, or who finds it difficult to communicate due to Alzheimer’s or another illness, a family member would be there to help them communicate with doctors and nurses. But under current rules people admitted to hospital cannot have anyone accompany them.

The part claims that providing more flexibility in the rules will reduce the need for external translators, who are current trying to fill the void, and ensure quicker treatment to be delivered, saving lives in the process.

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds said:

“Being admitted to hospital can be a scary experience for many people, especially when they find it difficult to communicate with the doctors and nurses doing their best to diagnose and treat them.

“We know that people across Wales already struggle to access healthcare services in their native tongue. There are also people, particularly elderly patients, who struggle to communicate their problems or medical history due to conditions such as Alzheimer’s.

“That is why the Welsh Liberal Democrats are calling for a review of the current isolation rules around hospital patients to allow vulnerable people to have a family member accompany them during their admission.

“This will ensure everyone can receive treatment in a timely and efficient manner, while also reducing the need to hire external translation services and thus freeing up additional resources to be spent on treating more patients.

“I hope the Welsh Government will look at this issue quickly and seriously as the longer we wait, the more people’s lives could be put at risk unnecessarily.”

 


Labels

Labels:
Location: Wales, UK

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ed Davey writes: I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories

  we wrap up the Liberal Democrat leadership election, I wanted to thank the thousands of people who have taken part in hustings, sent in questions to the campaigns and engaged in this contest. It’s absolutely right that there is a robust process that properly tests our next leader, and makes sure that whoever wins on Thursday has been put through their paces by the party. Whatever happens later this week, I know that Liberal Democrats will come together and turn our hand to doing what we do best, getting out campaigning and standing up for communities up and down the country. If you haven’t returned your ballot yet then there is still time to vote for me so that we can rebuild our party on solid foundations, and campaign for a fairer, greener and more caring society. That’s my vision for the future of our party, and I know I’ve got the experience we need to deliver it.  With your support, I want to rebuild our party and take on the Tories, and put ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Jane Dodds - Aberpergwm Coal Mine Expansion Must be Stopped

  he Welsh Liberal Democrats have reiterated their opposition to the expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine in Neath Port Talbot Council. Addressing a protest in front of the Senedd Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds stated that if we are to stand any hope of tackling climate change before it’s too late, the coal must be left in the ground.   The protest in front of the Senedd in Cardiff saw multiple Welsh climate groups attend.   The expansion of Aberpergwm Coal Mine has been at the centre of a row between the UK and Welsh Governments, with the Welsh Government claiming it does not have the legal authority to block the mine’s expansion, while the UK Coal Authority has insisted that the Welsh Government could in fact stop the development.   The new license, which was approved by the Coal Authority in January will allow Aberpergwm Mine to extract another forty million tonnes of coal. The development could release up to 1.17 million tonnes of very strong g...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Zealand Trade Deal Will Damage Rural Communities

Responding to the news that the UK Government has concluded the signing of a trade deal with New Zealand, removing trade barriers between the two countries, the Welsh Liberal Democrats have said the deal will cause damage to rural communities and the Welsh agricultural industry. Commenting Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader and Senedd Member for Mid & West Wales Jane Dodds said: "The UK Government has negotiated a trade agreement that will actively damage Welsh farming communities and will bring next to no tangible benefits to our local economies.   "The Conservatives have proven that they are utterly unable to negotiate trade deals that boost the UK economy and unfortunately this agreement is no exception. The economic benefits are a drop in the ocean, and they will do nothing to mitigate the damage from the red tape and paperwork caused by Boris Johnson's shambolic EU trade deal. "Instead of delivering Global Britain, this Government is selling Welsh farmers...
Post a Comment
Read more