We're calling for a review of the lockdown rules
regarding hospital pati
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.”
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