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Minister for Health launches ‘My Health, My Language’ Dr Sura Aldeen and Uzma Shakeen, pictured watching the ‘My Health, My Language’
The Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly T.D., has launched a video series to help migrants navigate the Irish health system more easily and provide health information in multiple languages. The series of multilingual videos on the Irish health service were developed to make health advice more accessible to people from migrant communities living in Ireland. According to the 2016 Census, there are over 600,000 people in Ireland (13% of the overall
population) who are multilingual, speaking a language other than Irish or English at home. The videos, which have been produced in 17 different languages, offer clear information on important health topics such as how the Irish health system works, accessing different types of health care, services that are free and information on pregnancy, newborn and maternal health. Healthcare systems vary significantly from country to country, and navigating an unfamiliar health service on arrival
English-language skills. We know from our work to reduce inequity in the health service that language and cultural differences can be barriers to people accessing the healthcare they need. These videos provide us with a powerful tool to speak to people living in Ireland in their native language and overcome some of these barriers. Very often, inclusivity benefits everyone.
in a new country has been shown to be a stressful experience and can result in a lack of access to essential services. These videos are presented in a personal, relatable and culturally appropriate manner, using simple language. The videos are presented by native speakers, who are also healthcare workers based in Ireland. People are often reassured when they see a member of their own community delivering factual, trustworthy health information in the videos.
“The closed captions in the relevant language on each of the videos assist not only people watching in their native language, but also people who are deaf or have hearing impairments, as well as viewers watching with the sound off. We were delighted to have worked closely with Translate Ireland, ICGP and colleagues in the HSE in the development of these videos. Thanks to all the wonderful clinicians who took time out of their busy schedules during the Covid-19 pandemic and the recent Ukrainian crisis to participate in the videos.”
Dr Margaret Fitzgerald, Public Health lead for social inclusion, HSE National Social Inclusion Office says, “Understanding and navigating the health service has been made simpler through ‘My Health My Language’, a series of multilingual videos aimed at migrants and people with limited
These videos were produced by the HSE’s National Social Inclusion Office with support from Translate Ireland, the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), and the HSE’s mychild.ie, National Immunisation Office (NIO), Sexual Health and Crisis Pregnancy Programme and other healthcare workers.
Cardiothoracic Ward opens at University Hospital Galway A new Cardiothoracic ward has opened at University Hospital Galway. The 13 bedded stateof-the-art ward is dedicated to cardiothoracic surgery. The ward is built to the highest standard and accommodates three isolation rooms, 3 twobedded wards and a four-bedded ward depending on the needs of the patients. The area includes a pre discharge lounge/ waiting area for patients waiting for admission. There is also a treatment room / pre assessment room where patients can be pre assessed prior to surgery. Costing ¤4.71m to design, build and equip, the ward has a state-of-the-art monitoring facility with telemetry and in-room monitoring. This provides privacy to the patient when they are resting while allowing them to be
monitored by staff in the ward twenty four hours a day. Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon for the Saolta University Health Care Group Mr Alan Soo welcomed the opening of the new ward. “I’m delighted to open this new ward to the patients requiring cardiothoracic care in the Saolta Hospital HealthCare Group. This state-of-the-art ward is built to the highest standard and regulations which I’m extremely proud of. It will allow us to provide patient care in a safe and clean environment at the same time giving adequate privacy to the patients to recover in their own time. Here, I would like to acknowledge all personnel involve in making this ward project a reality,” he added. The Cardiothoracic Unit in UHG is the sole tertiary referral centre
AUGUST 2022 • HPN | HOSPITALPROFESSIONALNEWS.IE
for both cardiac and thoracic surgery in the West of Ireland. The thoracic service is one of four designated NCCP lung cancer surgery centres in Ireland. The department delivers both
elective and emergency services to all hospitals within the Saolta Hospital Health Care Group. It is also a designated training centre for junior surgeons, nurses and allied health professionals.
