25/11/2024
🏴 Welsh Language Skills can make the world of difference to patients🏴
To celebrate the start of the Welsh Language Commissioner's 'Use Your Gymraeg' campaign this year which is held from Monday 25 November to Monday 9 December, we’re sharing Alexandra James’s story who lectures in Adult Nursing and teaches on the BSc (Hons) Nursing (Adults) and PG Dip Nursing (Adults) course. She grew up in Aberaeron and then moved to Cardiff to work after graduating from Swansea University.
She was the District Nursing Team Leader for Cardiff and the Vale Health Board, before moving into a training role and teaching doctors, nurses, care home staff and patients Advance Care Planning.
Her ability to communicate in Welsh was essential to her role while she was nursing, and there’s one occasion which made a lasting impression on her, on the importance of being able to speak Welsh.
“I remember one patient who was in her eighties and had dementia. She had forgotten how to speak English and natually, she felt very lonely. None of my colleagues could chat with her and I decided to start speaking to her in Welsh. I instantly saw her come to life, as her eyes lit up and she started talking to me in Welsh.' This experience struck me about how important it is to communicate in Welsh and the difference it can make to people, especially those in fragile situations.
She added ‘I urge anyone, regardless of your ability to speak Welsh to use what you’ve got, as you never know how much of a difference it can make to someone.”
If you’d like to learn Welsh, or brush up your Welsh skills please visit Learn Welsh Glamorgan to find out what courses are available.
