HEIW champions Welsh language use across NHS Wales to improve patient experience and care

Published 20/02/2026

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) champions the use of the Welsh language across NHS Wales, recognising that even a little bit of Welsh can make a meaningful difference to the experience of Welsh speaking patients when accessing healthcare services and receiving care.

The people of Wales often engage with health and care services during some of the most difficult and vulnerable moments of their lives. When patients are supported to use their preferred language, it can reduce anxiety, improve communication, strengthen trust and improve care outcomes. For many patients in Wales, being able to speak Welsh when receiving care is not just a preference, it is vital to feeling understood, safe and reassured.

HEIW is passionate about embedding the Welsh Language throughout education, training and workforce development across NHS Wales and is playing a vital role in delivering More Than Just Words (2022–2027), the Welsh Government plan ensuring people across Wales can access health and social care services in the language of their choice.

Key HEIW achievements include:

Development of Welsh language workforce planning guidance

HEIW developed dedicated workforce planning guidance for the Welsh Language, which is now embedded in strategic policy documents across the health sector. By encouraging organisations to make provision for services around Welsh language need, NHS Wales will be better equipped to ensure patients can communicate clearly and comfortably in their preferred language.

The guidance has already influenced Welsh Government strategies, including the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy (April 2025), reinforcing the importance of language choice in sensitive care settings.

Increased awareness and education with students and leaders

HEIW has strengthened its engagement with pre-registration students across Wales by revitalising the Welsh Health Students Forum, helping to raise awareness of the vital role the Welsh language plays in delivering effective and compassionate healthcare in Wales. Through the Forum, students have highlighted a number of priorities to support greater use of Welsh in the workplace, which HEIW will be taking forward over the coming year. One of the key requests was for introductory Welsh lessons tailored specifically to healthcare students. In response, HEIW has secured a pilot programme with Dysgu Cymraeg, the National Centre for Learning Welsh. 

Alongside this, HEIW’s Agor y Drws language awareness training and Welsh-language leadership modules have been rolled out nationally, supporting leaders at all levels to understand the importance of language choice in improving patient experience and care outcomes.

Inspiring future generations with NHS Wales careers

HEIW has commissioned the development of Syrjeri Sgiliau, an innovative teaching package designed to inspire primary school children across Wales to view healthcare careers positively. The new resource will be available on HEIW’s website later this year.

By engaging with schools, communities and national events such as the Eisteddfod, HEIW is responding to increasing demand for Welsh-language information and inspiring young people to see Welsh as a valuable skill within NHS Wales.

HEIW will continue to collaborate with Welsh Government, Social Care Wales, NHS Wales health boards and local authorities to further embed the Welsh language across NHS Wales, helping to build a workforce that reflects the linguistic needs of patients.

Huw Owen, Welsh Language Support Manager at HEIW said:

“Hearing and using their preferred language in health and care settings can bring real comfort for patients and their families.”

“That is why we are committed to increasing the use of the Welsh language across NHS Wales. We do not expect everyone to be able to speak Welsh. However, even small gestures, such as offering a friendly ‘shwmae’ or ‘bore da’, can make a meaningful difference and help Welsh speaking patients in Wales feel at ease.”

For more information on using Welsh at work, visit: Using Welsh at work - HEIW

To read about the More Than Just Words 2022–2027 plan, visit: More than just words: Welsh language plan in health and social care | GOV.WALES