Asian patients' perspective on the communication facilities provided in a large inner city hospital

Existing studies indicate the importance of communication, particularly for patients from minority ethnic groups, and the difficulties that occur in t he healthcare arena when this communication is not effective. This study explored how verbal communication took place in an acute NHS tru st between inpatients who spoke Urdu or Punjabi and health care providers. A total of 277 patients were recruited, of whom 34% spoke and understood En glish fluently, 35% spoke and understood limited English and 31% did not sp eak or understand English. Only half the respondents were aware of the existence of the interpreting s ervice, the majority of whom found it useful. When the interpreting service was not available communication was directed primarily through relatives a nd visitors, members of staff and other patients, whilst a small percentage were unable to communicate at all. Patients were able to identify service improvements such as more interprete rs, increasing patient awareness of the service, more Asian nurses and doct ors working on the wards, interpreters linked to the wards and increased av ailability and accessibility of the interpreting service over the 24 h. This study has been successful in identifying the effectiveness of current communication provision and in developing recommendation for the Trust in o rder to shape and inform future service developments for minority ethnic gr oups.