Francophones Services

Using an equity-driven approach, Provincial Language Services works to ensure communication between the patient and provider is accessible. All of our services assist in creating equitable access to health care for French-speaking patients.

Français

Funded by the B.C Francophone Affairs Program, Francophone Services (FS) is a service of the Provincial Language Services that helps organizations provide services to the linguistically and culturally francophone community, including immigrants and refugees.

Languages and health care in B.C

With 28,3% of its population recently immigrated (2016 census), British Columbia’s linguistic diversity continues to grow.

Provincial Language Services is committed to providing top-quality language services to their linguistically and culturally diverse clients, including immigrants, refugees, official minority language speakers and members of the Deaf, Deaf-Blind and Hard of Hearing community. We are actively engaged with community members to understand their current needs better.

The Provincial Language Services offers language access services to health authorities, family practice practitioners, specialist offices, and other allied health professionals:

Francophone Services

Francophone Services serves as a direct access point to health and wellness services and resources to French speaking British Columbians since 2005, in three main ways:

By Identifying, the specific needs of the Francophone community and by initiating or promoting projects aimed at improving its access to health care services.
By Advocating for culturally adapted French resources, in-language services and supporting the development of services to the Francophone community through initiatives, partnerships and funding.
Offering high quality, on-site or remote interpreting and translation services. Free language services allow patients and their families to access health authorities, family practice practitioners, specialist offices, and other allied health professionals, eliminating cultural and linguistic barriers.

Examples of services provided in 2021-2022:

995 persons and families to access health authorities, family practice practitioners, specialist offices and other allied health professionals' services, have solicited professional interpreters and translators in order to optimize de delivery of safe, efficient and equitable health care.

Over 500 persons and families have received help from the coordinator and most requests concerned Medical Service Plan (MSP), PharmaCare, where to get resources in French and how to access health care.

250 community events and partnerships have been set up to promote service all around BC (social media posts…).

The Café de Paris was launched in collaboration with RésoSanté. This program aimed at improving health care professionals' French language skills with a package of 14 hours of free one-on-one coaching with training instructors. So far, 420 people have completed the program, contributing to increase the quality, safety and equity of the B.C health care system.

PLS supported and/or coordinated 15 newcomer outreach projects aimed at guiding and facilitating the access of immigrants to Healthcare services.

Began a PLS lead research project related to the toxic drug crisis and its impact on the Francophone community.

Started to promote Cardiovascular Health Awareness Program (CHAP, or PSSC in French) throughout the provincial health care system. This patient-centred, interdisciplinary approach targets awareness and prevention for adult Canadians through risk assessment, repeated measurement of blood pressure, education materials, lifestyle recommendations, and access to community resources.

For any enquiries regarding the Francophone Services, please contact:

Email: francais@phsa.ca
Direct Line: 604-297-8113
Mobile: 604-312-9885
Toll Free: 1-800-331-1533

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