Skills Plus: Foreign nurses use English language courses to understand slang used by patients

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English language courses have spared the blushes of many of the staff working at Maidstone Hospital.

“One of the nurses was shocked to hear a patient was knackered,” said Susana Hernandez, programme manager for Skills Plus, which teaches English courses for speakers of other languages.

“She thought she meant naked because she had a habit of not wearing very much around the ward.

Nurses are improving their English speaking with courses run by Skills Plus
Nurses are improving their English speaking with courses run by Skills Plus

“Another nurse was puzzled to be told a patient felt ‘windy’. She thought it was a calm quiet day.”

Skills Plus has been working with Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust for many years giving refresher courses to fully qualified from Spain, Italy, Portugal and the Philippines.

The service, which has 14 training centres across Kent, offers a wide range of opportunities for adults to improve their skills and gain nationally recognised qualifications.

Its courses popular with food production companies, in the retail sector, construction and cleaning, where non-native speakers are often employed.

Some nurses at Maidstone Hospital struggled with slang used by patients
Some nurses at Maidstone Hospital struggled with slang used by patients

In the NHS, its support has not only broken down barriers but improved patient care.

“Patients may be using slang and these courses can help nurses know where they are coming from, even if they don’t 100% know the meaning,” said Susana.

“For cleaning staff who have to go into someone’s private room, it is about helping them establish that human connection.

“It is all about enhancing patient care. You can say you have a headache in many different ways but its meaning can change depending on how you say it.

The NHS uses trained nurses from countries around the world
The NHS uses trained nurses from countries around the world

“The focus is on pronounciation and on the use of everyday language which you don’t necessarily learn when you go on an English course.

“It’s the language used on a day-to-day basis.”

Since September, Skills Plus has trained about 50 people on five separate courses.

As well as language courses for non-native speakers, they also offer training for staff in basic maths, English and IT, which can be tailored for different employers.

Tuition can be delivered at a centre or on site at the client’s business.

To find out how their courses could help someone working in your business, visit www.skillspluskent.co.uk

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