Research recently published in the Irish Medical Journal suggests that patients could reap benefits from health services delivered in the Irish language in certain circumstances. The study, called “Experiences and Perceptions of Physicians Utilising the Irish Language”, sought to ascertain the practicality and significance of the Irish language in the healthcare system from the perspective of Irish-speaking doctors or those working in the Gaeltacht.
Although the study only involved five doctors, they noted instances where patients specifically required health services in Irish. They also proposed ways to enhance the delivery of these services. In summary, four main themes surfaced from the study: predominance of English in medical establishments; challenges in pinpointing Irish speakers; situations where patients have distinct needs related to accessing healthcare in Irish; and the topic of medical education in Irish.
Authors K Carr and S Antonijevic-Elliot asserted that their study supports the idea of delivering healthcare services in Irish, predominantly for the elderly and individuals with disabilities.
Exploring the themes further, the participating doctors commented on the dominance of the English language in the healthcare setting. Given that patients often feel they can’t access services in Irish, even in Gaeltacht areas, they often resort to English. As communication between a doctor and patient is crucial, providers should consider offering services in Irish.
Younger doctors involved in the study suggested that conversing with children in Irish during medical interactions may enhance its usage. As one doctor put it, children could see that it’s possible to “live your life in Irish”.
The research also highlighted a common trend in Gaeltacht areas where residents adopted anglicised versions of their names when interacting with state services, though this wasn’t always by choice. Some clinics incorporated these English versions into patient records, which, according to the researchers, resulted in a “loss of history” and potentially poorer patient outcomes.
There appears to be an issue, seemingly, that wasn’t experienced referring to foreign-origin given and family names. At least one implemented computer software lacked the option for Irish, despite the availability of numerous other languages within the same platform.
According to one medical professional, they could be shown that leading a life in Irish is plausible. Recognising linguistic competence is crucial, and there are three different elements of language noticeable in the health sector: medical practitioners being able to spot patients with Irish, patient’s ability to identify Irish-speaking doctors, and doctors identifying peers who speak the same language.
Four out of five participants stated it is pivotal for patients to comprehend if Irish service is an option. It has also been mentioned that we cannot presume bilingual signs as an indication of Irish services being available.
Doctors are dependent on signals to determine if a patient can communicate in Irish – the hints could come from the patient’s name or address, or overhearing the patient conversing in Irish. Visible methods were suggested to indicate a doctor’s ability to communicate in Irish. A system implemented in Wales was proposed by one participant, involving a badge denoting language competence.
Surprisingly, doctors seem to lack a means to identify Irish-speaking peers. This inability has inhibited their referral of Irish-speaking patients. A few participants managed to reach specialists with proficiency in Irish. However, younger doctors reportedly found this difficult, despite their eagerness to refer patients to colleagues proficient in the Irish language.
A registry was proposed, similar to the one currently in operation in Australia that catalogues the language abilities of doctors.
Specific scenarios require the availability of Irish language services, as mentioned by three physicians. Those with developmental disabilities and Alzheimer’s disease were specifically mentioned as groups who would significantly benefit from healthcare services in their native tongue.
A doctor emphasised the necessity of effective communication with adults with intellectual impairments to assist them in making their own decisions. For example, in the case of an adult with cognitive impairment, communicating in Irish may be imperative so that the patient could fully comprehend and give consent to the presented procedure.
Another medical practitioner identified the immediate requirement of using Irish in his interaction with Alzheimer’s patients and those suffering from severe dementia.
Education plays a significant role in this context.
During the fourth topic of discussion, educational aspects were deliberated upon by three medical professionals. To one, imparting knowledge to inexperienced doctors, English language skills presented an effective tool for cultivating empathy and fostering relationships. Conversely, the other two, who were of lesser age, expressed a keen interest in seeing an increase in opportunities to utilise the Irish language within the healthcare and medicinal sphere. One of them had participated in the ‘Medical Language’ focused study module at the University of Galway.
It was evident that the current language-based training options were limited. One claim reported that a doctor, who spoke fluent Irish, was barred from taking on a rotation role in the Gaeltacht region, in favour of other doctors with minimal proficiency in the Irish language.
Comparative examples from different countries were also drawn upon. Research from a Finnish bilingual region highlighted that despite strong Finnish language skills, Swedish speakers tend to visit health centres less frequently than the average population. In Wales, which shares significant cultural commonalities with Ireland, the efficacy of language policies within health systems is frequently examined. The ‘Active Offer’ model is implemented in Wales, obligating healthcare providers to offer services in Welsh rather than putting the onus on the patients to request such services themselves.
In contrast, within Ireland, where English remains a dominant language in healthcare, existing studies suggest that patients cannot consistently communicate in Irish with healthcare practitioners, even in regions like Gaeltacht. While policy formulation based solely on provincial evidence may not be feasible, such research provides useful insights into the healthcare system’s attitude towards the Irish-speaking community, underlining the need for feedback collection to better comprehend the language’s significance within the medical field.
But perhaps most significantly, it is hinted once again that patients may gain particular health benefits when they receive medical care in their mother tongue.