§ Mrs. Renée Shortasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what new proposals he has to ensure that staff from local ethnic groups are available as interpreters in National Health Service hospitals, particularly in antenatal clinics and maternity wards.
§ Mr. Kenneth ClarkeI shall shortly be launching a campaign which will help maternity services to tackle the language barrier as it affects their care of Asian mothers.240W An important feature will be the use of trained link workers who will work closely with midwives and health visitors as interpreters and explain the advice which is given. They will also help the health professionals to understand more fully the mothers' worries and needs. They will act as a vital link between the mother and the health professional, and also between the Asian community and the health service. The Government are funding the training and employment of 80 of these workers for two years.
The campaign will also have a health education purpose. The recent Stop Rickets Campaign has shown how the Asian community can be successfully involved in health education. This time we want to tell Asian women about the advantages of starting antenatal care as early as possible.
The project, which will be launched in September, will be a partnership between the Government, Save the Children Fund, the Health Education Council and the health authorities. We will be advised by a working group representing the main Asian communities and organisations in the United Kingdom.
I have written to a number of health authorities with large Asian populations to ask if they would like to take part. I shall be writing to more as the campaign goes on.