Meddwl Cymraeg – One Year On
7 December 2022
Today is Diwrnod Hawliau Iaith Gymraeg - Welsh Language Rights Day, marking one year since Cardiff and Vale University Health Board launched its Meddwl Cymraeg – Think Welsh campaign.
The campaign encourages the organisation’s staff to actively think about the Welsh language, and consider how they can contribute to making services more accessible to Welsh speakers, with an ultimate ambition of becoming a fully bilingual organisation.
Over the last 12 months, the Health Board has taken a number of positive steps to increase use of the Welsh language and to celebrate Welsh culture across the organisation, with highlights including:
- piloting an admissions pack to assist staff in key areas to identify patients who prefer to speak Welsh and encouraging staff members to use welsh when talking to them,
- commissioning a bilingual mural wall on the space ward in our Children's Hospital to help young Welsh speaking patients feel more comfortable using Welsh,
- introducing materials at our Woodland House headquarters providing phrases in Welsh that staff can use as part of their working day,
- launching inaugural St David’s Day awards to recognise staff increasing use of the Welsh language,
- a rise in the number of staff registering to do Welsh Language courses via the LearnWelsh website.
- working to make the Health Board and Heath Charity websites and social media channels accessible in Welsh.
Dr Mari Roberts is a Consultant Paediatric Anaesthatist at the Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital for Wales, who regularly sees the benefit of using Welsh when speaking to patients as part of her role.
Dr Roberts said: "When I go to see Welsh speaking children and their families I have quite regularly seen the child hiding from me and asking "Who is this person?", but when they hear me talking in Welsh they start smiling and feel happier.
“Sometimes they connect speaking English with strangers or ‘important’ people, so speaking Welsh makes it easier to create a relationship with the patient and make them feel happy.
“I feel that the Welsh language should have the same status as English in the workplace and I enjoy talking with my colleagues in Welsh. I also think it’s important to teach other people the language.
“There are a lot of people I work with who can speak bits of Welsh but don’t feel confident with it, but we promote the impact of doing so.”
Rachel Gidman, Executive Director of People and Culture, said: “As one of the major organisations in and around Wales’ capital, we have a responsibility to be proactive and promote the Welsh language, but also celebrate the nation’s heritage and culture.
“I’m pleased with progress we’ve made over the past 12 months, but there is still significant work to achieve our ultimate ambition of becoming a fully bilingual organisation.
“On Welsh Language Rights Day, I would encourage all patients, staff and the wider community to promote Welsh wherever they’re able to, so that collectively we can help to ensure the continued use and growth of the Welsh language, both within our organsiation and across Wales.”