Project summary
The Polish community requested and helped to develop phrase books of the most common medical terminology, so that Polish-speaking patients and health staff can communicate even if an interpreter is not able to be present.
Project Dates
Start Date: 01/11/2007
Ongoing
Area of healthcare
Voluntary sector
Target groups
Black and minority ethnic people
Approaches used
Focus groups, Action planning/ community appraisal, Interviews, Leaflets
Aims and objectives
To develop a Polish phrase book or common medical terminology, in order to assist the Polish community to access GP, Dentist, Optometrist and Pharmacist services.
To help NHS staff to communicate with Polish patients where translators may not be present, such as the Recovery Room, Vascular Labs and Maternity Services.
What we did
FRAE (Fairness, Race Awareness and Equality) Fife Health Advocacy Project and the Fife Polish Association engaged with individuals from the Polish community who identified the need for a Polish phrase book.
Staff in NHS Fife staff from the Operating Theatre, Out-patient Department, Vascular Labs and Maternity Services helped to identify relevant common medical phrases and terminology which should be included in the leaflets and phrase cards.
A Polish GP and a Polish interpreter helped to provide translations.
The NHS Fife Race Equality Working Group supported the project with funding. They also arranged for the production of leaflets and wipe-clean laminated phrase cards for use in the post operative Recovery Rooms and in the labs.
Evaluation
This project addressed the difficulties of getting an interpreter who is suitable and available when needed. By increasing the understanding of the most commonly used medical phrases and terminology, this has resulted in better outcomes for health practitioners and the Polish patients during their appointments.
As a result of distribution of leaflets in various practices in Fife, requests have been received for similar leaflets in Cantonese, Urdu and Spanish.
The feedback from some Polish community members is that they prefer using the leaflets, as sometimes it is not appropriate to have an interpreter present.
Plans for the future
It is intended to develop similar leaflets for other languages in response to needs and requests.
We also plan to promote this best practice to Health Boards across Scotland and to other Equality organisations.