New Welsh Language Training for Midwives and Health Staff Across Wales

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-03 09:42 3 min read

A healthcare worker in uniform laughing with an older patient in a clinical setting.

Welsh-speaking patients and families could have more opportunities to use Welsh during pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood as maternity staff across Wales gain access to expanded language training.

The Welsh Government is investing in the National Centre for Learning Welsh, which has already trained more than 9,000 health and care workers. The fully funded programmes are intended to help staff develop the confidence and practical skills to use more Welsh in their everyday work.

Welsh-language training expands into maternity care

A new partnership between the National Centre for Learning Welsh and the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) will create training opportunities for midwives and other maternity staff across Wales.

For patients, the practical benefit could be the ability to discuss choices, concerns and health information in the language in which they feel most comfortable. This can be particularly important during pregnancy, labour and the first days of parenthood, when families may be processing unfamiliar or sensitive information.

Julie Richards, Head of RCM Cymru, said communicating in a family’s preferred language can help build trust, provide reassurance and support informed choices throughout the maternity journey. She said the partnership would strengthen person-centred care and help more women and families access maternity services in Welsh if they wish.

The announcement confirms the creation of training opportunities but does not specify how many maternity workers will participate or when individual courses will begin.

More than 9,000 health and care staff have taken part

The maternity partnership sits within the Centre’s wider Learn Welsh for Health and Social Care programme. This provides a comprehensive learning package and support for people working across the sector, alongside Welsh-language programmes for medical students.

More than 9,000 health and care staff have participated in the Centre’s training programmes so far. The emphasis is not simply on learning vocabulary, but on giving workers the confidence to use Welsh during their daily professional duties.

That wider reach means the investment covers both existing employees and people preparing to enter healthcare. For Welsh-speaking patients, the intended effect is a workforce better able to communicate clearly, support dignity and make important health information easier to discuss and understand.

Welsh-medium schemes support future healthcare workers

The Welsh Government is also supporting longer-term workforce development through Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. Since their launch, the Tomorrow’s Doctors, Tomorrow’s Dentists and Tomorrow’s Health Workers schemes have helped more than 1,100 aspiring professionals access mentoring, application support and work experience.

Jano Evans, from Talgarreg, completed her first year studying Dentistry at Cardiff University after receiving support through Tomorrow’s Dentists. She said the scheme helped her build a strong application and gave her confidence that a career in dentistry was within reach.

Her ambition is to return to the Talgarreg area and provide a Welsh-language dental service in the community, illustrating how support offered before and during training could eventually affect the availability of care in Welsh locally.

Anna Brychan, Cabinet Minister for Education and Welsh Language, said using Welsh while receiving care can help people feel more comfortable and confident, protect their dignity and make it easier to express themselves.

The details were published by the Welsh Government on 2 August 2026 and were current as of that date.

Source: Welsh Government Announcements

Context & actions About this article

Source check Verified Government Announcement

This article is based on the official Welsh Government announcement regarding workforce development and language training initiatives.

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