NL Health Services Implements New French-Language Initiatives
Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Health Services is launching two new French-language initiatives aimed at creating a more inclusive and responsive health-care system for French-speaking patients, clients and long-term residents, as well as health-care professionals. A Provincial Linguistic Data Strategy and a Retention Strategy will be rolled out over the next three years.
“We are excited to launch these initiatives to help us better serve the needs of French-speaking patients and assist with retention of French-speaking health professionals,” said Darla King, vice-president of transformation – well-being for NL Health Services. “We are committed to improving access to services in French for French-speaking patients and clients as well as continuing and enhancing relations with the Francophone community.”
The Provincial Linguistic Data Strategy will enhance the province’s health system by adding language data collection into CorCare, the new health information system for NL Health Services. By adding this language data, this initiative supports equitable access to health-care services for the Francophone community by identifying available French-speaking personnel and matching them with patient needs.
The development and implementation of a Retention Strategy is designed to enhance the retention of French-speaking health professionals within NL Health Services. This initiative aims to improve the availability and delivery of French-language health-care services across the province by strengthening the presence of bilingual health-care professionals.
Both initiatives aim to improve access and quality of health services for Francophone communities and are possible thanks to multi-year funding from Health Canada and Société Santé en Français through the Official Languages Health Program (OLHP). They align closely with the organizational priorities of quality and health equity in our Strategic Plan (2024-26) and support Health Accord NL’s objective to create a culture of equity and inclusion demonstrated through the values, language and behaviours of health-care professionals and patients, clients and long-term care residents.
“Ensuring the sustainability of French-language health-care services depends on a strong commitment to Francophone staff,” said Antoine Désilet, general manager of the Société Santé en Français. “This structuring program plays a key role in strengthening the active offer by enabling professionals to perfect their mastery of French, access appropriate continuing education and develop solid collaborative networks. By investing in these essential levers, we can contribute directly to the expansion and consolidation of French-language services, particularly in crucial sectors such as primary and long-term care.”
By strengthening the presence of French services within our organization, NL Health Services will establish more informed decision-making to improve health-care services for the Francophone population. Further details on both initiatives can be found in the backgrounder below.
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