A new study into the healthcare needs of people from different religions has warned that standards and services are being compromised by a lack of inter-cultural training.
The "Health, Faith and Equality" report, which was unveiled by Ombudsman, Emily O'Reilly in Trinity College Dublin this morning, is the first ever study carried out into the healthcare needs of people from non-Christian and minority Christian religions in Ireland.
The study found that there are a number of barriers that may stop individuals from alternative religions from using healthcare services. These include communication difficulties, the use of medications containing animal derivaties, and different approaches to medical interventions such as circumcision, blood tranfusions, organ transplantations and postmorterms.
The report also states that inadequate training of professionals is another factor that may influence whether individuals make use of healthcare services.
The Health Research Board-funded report was carried out by Dr Katy Radford of TCD's Irish School of Ecumenics in a variety of settings including the Adelaide & Meath Hospital incorporating the National Children's Hospital (AMiNCH) in Tallaght, refugee reception centres around Dublin as well as community and faith-based organisations throughout the State.
Dr Radford said that with staff and health service users coming from increasingly diverse backgrounds, there are challenges in health care settings connected to protocols and practices related to faith.
“There can never be a one size fits all approach to religious practices. Because there is such diversity in people and in their faith practices, no blueprint can ever take the place of simply asking questions like ‘how would you like to be treated’, or ‘what would you like?,’” said Dr Radford.
The report makes a series of recommendations aimed at boosting uptake of healthcare services from people of different faiths including taking a community development approach to working with non-christian churches, creating guidelines and protocols for healthcare staff and offering facilities for religious services.
