RCSLT responds to the More than just words: Welsh government plan for providing health and social care services through the medium of Welsh 2022-2027
At the National Eisteddfod in Tregaron last week, Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services launched the More than just words: the Welsh government plan for providing health and social care services through the medium of Welsh 2022-2027 (PDF). RCSLT Wales attended the stakeholder reference group which informed the plan and provided written evidence.
At the heart of the plan is the principle of the Active Offer. It places a responsibility on health and social care providers to offer services in Welsh, rather than on the patient or service user to have to request them.
The plan is made up of a number of key actions based on the following themes:
- Culture and leadership
- Welsh language planning and policies
- Supporting and developing Welsh language skills of the workforce
- Sharing best practice
Speech and language therapy is highlighted as a priority area within the plan and a key action under the section Welsh language planning and policies includes ‘establishing Welsh language care pathways for vulnerable individuals in identified priority groups such as older people, children, mental health, speech therapy, learning difficulties, and stroke services’.
Progress against the actions will be monitored by a new advisory board.
Pippa Cotterill, Head of Wales Office, commented:
“We welcome the publication of the updated More than just words plan. RCSLT guidelines clearly state that speech and language therapists should provide intervention in the individual’s mother tongue and support the family in their use of mother tongue when necessary/appropriate. There is a clear clinical rationale for the availability of Welsh language speech and language therapy and as a college, we are committed to supporting improvements in this area.
“Since the publication of the first plan in 2016, we have seen significant developments to improve the availability of Welsh language speech and language therapy services. These include the appointment of lecturers through the Coleg Cymraeg Genedlaethol to ensure undergraduates are able to study through the medium of Welsh and the introduction of quotas for Welsh speakers within commissioning figures for the profession. We look forward to working with Welsh government and other key stakeholders to drive further progress over the next five years.”
Ymateb y Coleg Brenhinol Therapyddion Lleferydd ac Iaith (RCSLT) i Mwy na geiriau: cynllun Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg 2022-2027
Yn yr Eisteddfod Genedlaethol yn Nhregaron yr wythnos ddiwethaf, lansiodd Eluned Morgan AS, Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, Mwy na geiriau: Cynllun Llywodraeth Cymru ar gyfer darparu gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg 2022-2027 (PDF). Mynychodd RCSLT y grŵp cyfeirio rhanddeiliaid oedd yn sail i’r cynllun a rhoddodd dystiolaeth ysgrifenedig sydd ar gael yma.
Craidd y cynllun yw egwyddor Cynnig Rhagweithiol. Mae’n gosod cyfrifoldeb ar ddarparwyr iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i gynnig gwasanaethau yn y Gymraeg, yn hytrach na bod y claf neu ddefnyddiwr gwasanaeth yn gorfod gofyn amdanynt.
Mae’r cynllun yn cynnwys nifer o gamau gweithredu allweddol yn seiliedig ar y themâu dilynol:
- Diwylliant ac arweinyddiaeth
- Polisïau a chynlluniau ar gyfer y Gymraeg
- Cefnogi a datblygu sgiliau Cymraeg y gweithlu
- Rhannu arferion gorau
Caiff therapi lleferydd ac Iaith ei amlygu fel maes blaenoriaeth o fewn y cynllun ac mae cam gweithredu allweddol dan adran polisïau a chynlluniau ar gyfer y Gymraeg yn cynnwys ‘sefydlu llwybrau gofal Cymraeg ar gyfer unigolion agored i niwed mewn grwpiau blaenoriaeth penodol fel pobl hŷn, plant, iechyd meddwl, therapi lleferydd, anawsterau dysgu, a gwasanaethau strôc.’
Caiff cynnydd ar y camau gweithredu ei fonitro gan fwrdd ymgynghori newydd.
Dywedodd Pippa Cotterill, Pennaeth Swyddfa Cymru:
“Croesawn gyhoeddiad cynllun Mwy na geiriau wedi ei ddiweddaru. Mae canllawiau’r RCSLT yn dweud y glir y dylai Therapyddion Lleferydd ac Iaith ddarparu ymyriad ym mamiaith yr unigolyn a chefnogi’r teulu yn eu defnydd o’u mamiaith pan fo hynny yn angenrheidiol/priodol. Mae rhesymeg glinigol glir ar gyfer argaeledd therapi lleferydd ac iaith yn y Gymraeg, ac fel coleg, rydym yn ymroddedig i gefnogi gwelliannau yn y maes.
“Ers cyhoeddi’r cynllun cyntaf yn 2016, gwelsom ddatblygiadau sylweddol i wella argaeledd gwasanaethau therapi lleferydd ac iaith yn y Gymraeg. Mae hyn yn cynnwys penodi darlithwyr drwy’r Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol i sicrhau y gall israddedigion astudio drwy gyfrwng y Gymraeg a chyflwyno cwotâu ar gyfer siaradwyr Cymraeg o fewn ffigurau comisiynu ar gyfer y proffesiwn. Edrychwn ymlaen at weithio gyda Llywodraeth Cymru a rhanddeiliaid allweddol eraill i hybu cynnydd ymhellach dros y pum mlynedd nesaf.”
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