The case for bilingual workers within the maternity services

Abstract

Ensuring access to the population they serve is central to the role of health authorities and trusts. Language and communication difficulties are among the most common barriers to access for black and minority ethnic people. The employment of bilingual workers in the health service has been one response to improving access for this section of the population. This review examines some of the available evidence of the effectiveness of such services and puts forward the case for their development within maternity services.