NHS local community hubs

How much of the budget is spent on translating everything into Welsh?

Allira

How much of the budget is spent on translating everything into Welsh?

I think where Pantglas is, it’s more a case of translating everything into English Allira. If you’re in a border area, or South Wales it can seem like a waste of resources to translate everything, I agree, but I don’t know what the answer is in a bilingual country.

Pantglas2

I appreciate that Casdon and your working knowledge of the service.

However the Labour administration have had over two decades to improve, not worsen, things in our area and if that had happened under the Tories they’d have been crucified!

I take no pleasure in any of this plummeting of service as my DH is politically opposed to my father and both in dire need of prompt healthcare- I count myself fortunate in my good health .

I agree that it’s long been a failing service in Betsi Cadwaladr Pantglas. I’m sure there are good services too, but the faith of the public has been lost, which makes it very difficult for improvements to be perceived when they do happen, and failures are amplified. It is happening in England too in some areas, and no doubt in Scotland. I wish I knew what the answer was to such a complex issue, but I don’t think if I’m being honest that a change of government would make much of a difference, because if that was the reason the problems be the same elsewhere too.

Casdon

Allira

How much of the budget is spent on translating everything into Welsh?

I think where Pantglas is, it’s more a case of translating everything into English Allira. If you’re in a border area, or South Wales it can seem like a waste of resources to translate everything, I agree, but I don’t know what the answer is in a bilingual country.

Everyone speaks English now, although I know they didn't at one point as we had relatives who only spoke Welsh.

To clarify - everyone understands English now.

I know, but in parts of Wales Welsh is still their first, native language.

When money is limited, choices must be made.
Non-essential services should be questioned.

It’s not going to happen Allira, no point in wasting energy on something you can’t change.

Probably!

But, as the staff at the clinic I went to (before Covid) said:

"None of the staff speak Welsh, none of the patients really speak much Welsh - what is the point? We could use that money to help patients".

The whole translation budget may be slashed using new technology- Wes Streeting does encourage making better use of technology. In theory any way.

Doodledog

Our GP surgery used to offer minor ops like mole removal but that stopped ages ago, and patients are now referred to dermatology. Surely it must be cheaper to do it in the surgery?

I've had a couple of moles removed by a GP. One in the initial appointment ('Oh, I don't like the look of that. Shall we get it sent for testing?' and off it came), and the other needed a separate appointment on a dedicated minor surgery day as the system changed. Neither needed treatment, but it does seem as though things take longer and get less convenient as time goes by, and having several appointments must also increase costs?

I saw the GP who specialises in skin cancers, he is from a hot country and lots of experience, but he decided I needed to see a specialist with the lesions I had. All well and good but the local hospital had lost their specialist and were struggling to recruit.

To cope with the backlog buiding up they brought in a specialist from elsewhere to do weekend clinics. It was so different to how I've normally experienced things, no waiting round, in, no chat, assessed, told it needed to be removed did I consent. Yes I did and he did it. I don't think I was in the hospital for more than 30 minutes from start to finish. My GP got the results and passed them on to me.

Maybe we need this sort of streamlined service, no frills, no bedside manner, bit like going to a drive-thru rather than a restaurant.

I've just been discharged from the virtual pneumonia ward. For some reason I found it quite funny, I mean was the pneumonia virtual or the ward?

theworriedwell

I've just been discharged from the virtual pneumonia ward. For some reason I found it quite funny, I mean was the pneumonia virtual or the ward?

Did that mean you could stay at home?

How will they be staffed given the shortage of doctors and nurses, etc.?

Grantanow

How will they be staffed given the shortage of doctors and nurses, etc.?

The same way medical facilities are staffed now - there'll be a shortage. There won't need to be an increase.

theworriedwell

I've just been discharged from the virtual pneumonia ward. For some reason I found it quite funny, I mean was the pneumonia virtual or the ward?

The Ward because you presumedly stayed at home and was monitored daily or whatever was required. Virtual wards are wonderful for a lot of reasons, we have many examples of that in our group/area.

growstuff

Grantanow

How will they be staffed given the shortage of doctors and nurses, etc.?

The same way medical facilities are staffed now - there'll be a shortage. There won't need to be an increase.

If you read the full 10 year plan, you will see how they propose to staff everything. it may look like pies in the sky to us all, but let us give them a chance. It is a 10 year proposal remember not happening overnight.

This week all incompetence?the in patients have been moved out from our Cottage hospital, ‘lack of staff’ is the reason given. The hospital is now empty of patients. There is a minor injuries unit, and x ray dept, all on site, next to the main car park, in the town centre. Is this a case of left hand / right hand? Or is it just the usual incompetence?

If they haven't got enough to operate safely I'm not sure what else they could do.

Enough staff.

Growstuff yes I stayed at home. I was offered a bed but my own coughing was driving me mad and I thought I couldn't bear to be in a ward with other people the same. GP was informed and kept an eye on me, I got more med when I needed it. I did have to go back for x-rays. I still don't feel 100% but close enough.

theworriedwell

Growstuff yes I stayed at home. I was offered a bed but my own coughing was driving me mad and I thought I couldn't bear to be in a ward with other people the same. GP was informed and kept an eye on me, I got more med when I needed it. I did have to go back for x-rays. I still don't feel 100% but close enough.

I hope you're fully recovered soon.

I hate staying in hospital with a passion, so I'd much prefer to stay in my own comfy bed and bedroom if I could.

I thought you might have been hooked up to machines at home which could communicate with a hospital.

No it wasn't very high tech. Just a lovely young doctor saying thought I should be admitted, when I said I wanted to go home she said she was a bit 50/50 about it but got me meds and referral to GP and the virtual clinic. Maybe a virtual ward would be more like you imagined.

Allira

How much of the budget is spent on translating everything into Welsh?

It’s not just Welsh though Allira. As in England the NHS spends millions on translations into Polish, Hindi, Punjabi, etc+
Should all that stop and the money used to improve services?

As an aside my Dad is always keen to let me know when he is treated by a Welsh speaking health worker and his old paper records had Welsh in capitals next to his name - not sure whether it would be recorded on computerised records.

Lots of older people in Wales are happier conversing in their first language as I’m sure are you. I found it interesting that in Spain friends had to take their own translators to hospital appointments (€15 an hour for the enterprising immigrants who’d sussed out a good earner)

Sorry just realised I said virtual ward and I think it was actually the virtual clinic although I'm confusing myself now. I'll have to look at the letter.