Bridging the Communication Gap in an Irish Plastic-Surgery Trauma Unit

Abstract

Ireland’s demographic landscape has transformed dramatically in the past decade. The 2022 Census found that 20 % of residents (1,017,437 people) were born outside the State, up from 17 % in 2016. This diversity is increasingly visible at our Plastic Surgery Trauma Unit, which handles urgent cases on a daily basis. Accessible, equitable communication is essential in this acute-care setting, supporting informed consent, patient safety, confidentiality and fairness.

Recognising this evolving patient profile, we sought to access formal interpretation services for trauma patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). A prospective analysis of all consecutively presenting patients to the plastic-surgery trauma unit at St Vincent’s University Hospital Dublin was performed from 1 November 2024 to 31 January 2025. Preferred language, interpreter use and substitute communication strategies were collated from patient healthcare records and assessed at three time-points: (1) triage, (2) the informed consent process and (3) discharge. We compared these practices with the HSE On Speaking Terms Good Practice Guidelines.