People should have access to health services in Welsh, says commissioner

The ‘Defnyddia dy Gymraeg’ campaign gives organisations the opportunity to promote their Welsh language services.

People should have the option to speak Welsh when accessing health services, according to a language commissioner.

The ‘Defnyddia dy Gymraeg’ campaign encourages organisations to promote their Welsh language services for people in Wales.

‘‘Being able to use Welsh when receiving healthcare services is crucial, particularly as we are often in a position of weakness when we seek those services. We wish to see an increase in opportunities to use the Welsh language with the healthcare sector in general,’ said Efa Gruffudd Jones, the Welsh Language Commissioner.

A newly published strategic plan for 2025-2030 by the Welsh Language Commissioner has found that the health and care sector need better language services.

‘I recently visited Ysbyty Glan Glywd and saw first hand how they are introducing new initiatives that help staff develop their confidence in using the Welsh language and see the benefits to them and to the patients. Similar initiatives are rolling out across Wales,’ said Efa Gruffudd Jones.

The Welsh Commissioner is working alongside the Welsh Government and the National Centre for Learning Welsh to identify the issues that health boards face and to introduce new initiatives.

The campaign also aims to address welsh in the workplace. Businesses and charities are encouraged to get involved to help normalise Welsh in people’s lives.

‘The challenge is to maintain the Welsh language skills of our young people and turn speakers into long-term users of the language, this is crucial if we want Welsh to be a living, breathing language, used on a day to day basis,’ said Efa Gruffudd Jones.

Increasing the confidence of Welsh speakers is a priority for the campaign by speaking the language at home, in shops and with friends.

‘A bilingual society can offer so much more opportunities for people, it can open door to new cultural experiences, and it reflects the reality of much of the world’s population who live their lives using more than one language,’ said Efa Gruffudd Jones.

‘Welsh needs to be seen and heard in all aspects of life it is to survive and flourish in the future.’  

The campaign will run between the 25^th November and the 9^th December 2024.