The growing diversity of families experiencing bereavements at Galway University Hospitals (UHG and Merlin Park ) has prompted the facility to translate its information booklets on bereavement and post mortems into Polish - the most commonly used interpreting service for the hospitals.
Ger Kilkelly of the Patient Advice Liaison Service (PALS )/End of Life Care Committee said the booklets have been available in English for some time.
“However, in response to the growing diversity of families who have bereavements at the hospital, we looked at translating the booklets. The most commonly used interpreting service for GUH is Polish so this was the obvious language to start with.
“We hope that in the future with the continued support of hospital management we will translate the booklets into other commonly used languages. Even though we have the service of accredited interpreters we realised that there was a need for written information that the family can refer to in the weeks and months following a death.”
Chris Kane, the general manager of University Hospital Galway said providing information and support to families and carers following a death and during the grieving process is very important.
“It is a very emotional and stressful time overall and particularly difficult for relatives who are in a foreign country and the challenges they face with respect to language barriers. We hope that the booklet will help bereaved families with the practicalities of dealing with a death in what is a very sad and difficult time.”
Anne McKeown, the bereavement liaison Officer/End of Life Care Committee, at Galway University Hospitals explained that this organisation promotes quality end of life care for both the patient and family.
“Today we saw the launch of another development initiative of the End of Life Committee. I would like to thank hospital management for their continuous support of the committee. I would also like to acknowledge the leadership of the Hospice Friendly Hospitals Programme and thank them for their support throughout the years and, of course, for the bursary towards today’s launch.”
To coincide with the launch of the booklets a study day was held for Clinical Nurse Managers titled “End of life care for our patients – respecting diversity of culture, beliefs and values”.
Cathy Quinn, nurse consultant in bereavement care and Ann Callanan, counsellor /therapist with the Employee Assistance and Counselling Services at Galway University Hospital, facilitated the day.
