Implementing the evidence for language-appropriate health care systems: The Welsh context

Like Canada, Wales, UK is a bilingual nation: the Welsh language is an important part of its national identity and legislative framework. This has implications for the delivery of public sector services, particularly in the context of health and social care, where responding to the language needs of service users is fundamental to quality health care provision. Nevertheless, despite the strengthening policy commitment for a whole-system approach towards enhancing Welsh language services, there is a paucity of evidence to guide best practice in organizational planning in health care settings. This commentary outlines the context and significance of bilingual health care provision in Wales and the implications for building and embedding the evidence base. It calls for further work to translate our knowledge and understanding of language-appropriate practice to provide more effective and sensitive health care services; and to close the implementation gap between evidence and practice. Given the relevance of this challenge for health care providers in Canada who plan and deliver services for French-language minorities, this approach has resonance across our research communities. Thus, in our common pursuit to establish integrated knowledge translation research for language-appropriate health care systems, this commentary offers a focus for reflection, discussion and collaborative action.