Bilingual Prescription labels can now be introduced
We’re always being advised that we should take our medicines as prescribed by our doctors and pharmacists and that we should follow the instructions given on the pill bottle or packet to the letter.
One way of ensuring that we do this is to give the instructions in clear language that is well understood- that’s why cautionary instructions are to be available in Welsh for the first time.
A Welsh language or bilingual service is vital for the welfare of Welsh speaking patients, according to an enquiry by the Welsh Language Commissioner. A recommendation endorsed by the Chief Pharmaceutical Officer for Wales is for bilingual labels on prescription medicines to be made available to patients.
A team comprising language specialists and pharmacists at Bangor University and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has made the first step by translating 30 cautionary instructions given to patients on prescription medicines.
These will now become available to all pharmacies and doctors, increasing the amount of health support provided in Welsh within the NHS in Wales. The labels are available in the online edition of the British National Formulary the standard pharmaceutical reference text used by prescribers, nurses and pharmacists within the NHS, and will become available in the next printed edition.
Mair Martin, Lead Pharmacist-Medicines Information, who led the project for
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said:
“Following medicines instructions carefully can make a significant difference to health outcomes and safe use of medicines. We hope that this first step towards making all cautionary and advice labels available in Welsh will lead to a greater understanding of and adherence to the prescribing instructions.”
On behalf of Bangor University, Professor Dyfrig Hughes of the Centre for Health Economics and Medicines Evaluation, commented that: “Pooling our expertise and access to different user panels and audiences, the instruction shave now not only been translated into Welsh, but also tested to ensure that they are clearly understood by people taking the medicines. We’re grateful to all the participants who provided feedback on the clarity of the instructions. This is a great way in which we can share our expertise to bring benefits to as many people as possible.”
The All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG), which develops resources to support prescribers and maximise health gain through the safe use and cost-effective use of medicines, is pleased to be able to approve and endorse this work.
Welcoming the launch of the new bilingual instructions Dr Stuart Linton, Chair of AWMSG said:
“We are pleased to have approved these cautionary labels for use in Wales. Having the endorsement of AWMSG will ensure that pharmacists across Wales will have the option to provide bilingual labels on prescription medicines, and this will help improve patients’ understanding and use of medicines”.
Prof Dyfrig Hughes explained that: “The aim of the present study was to develop Welsh language versions of the 30 cautionary and advisory labels. There is a need to also translate the 2000+ directions to the Welsh language, following the same robust methods, however this will require a funding investment.”
Translated cautionary and advisory labels
English | Cymraeg |
Caution: flammable. Keep your body away from fire or flames after you have put on the medicine | Rhybudd: Fflamadwy. Ar ôl rhoi'r feddyginiaeth ymlaen, cadwch yn glir o dân neu fflamau |
Contains aspirin. Do not take anything else containing aspirin while taking this medicine | Yn cynnwys aspirin. Peidiwch â chymryd unrhyw beth arall sy'n cynnwys aspirin tra'n cymryd y feddyginiaeth hon |
Contains paracetamol. Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine. Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine, even if you feel well | Yn cynnwys paracetamol. Peidiwch â chymryd unrhyw beth arall sy'n cynnwys paracetamol tra'n cymryd y feddyginiaeth hon. Siaradwch gyda'ch meddyg ar unwaith os ydych yn cymryd gormod, hyd yn oed os ydych yn teimlo'n iawn |
Dissolve or mix with water before taking | Gadewch i doddi mewn dŵr cyn ei gymryd |
Dissolve the tablet under your tongue—do not swallow. Store the tablets in this bottle with the cap tightly closed. Get a new supply 8 weeks after opening | Rhowch y dabled i doddi dan eich tafod - peidiwch â'i lyncu. Cadwch y tabledi yn y botel yma gyda'r caead wedi'i gau yn dynn. Gofynnwch am dabledi newydd 8 wythnos ar ôl ei hagor |
Dissolve this medicine under your tongue | Gadewch i’r feddyginiaeth hon doddi o dan y tafod |
Do not take anything containing aspirin while taking this medicine | Peidiwch â chymryd unrhyw beth sy'n cynnwys aspirin gyda'r feddyginiaeth hon |
Do not take indigestion remedies 2 hours before or after you take this medicine | Peidiwch â chymryd meddyginiaethau camdreuliad 2 awr cyn neu ar ôl y feddyginiaeth hon |
Do not take indigestion remedies, or medicines containing iron or zinc, 2 hours before or after you take this medicine | Peidiwch â chymryd meddyginiaethau camdreuliad neu feddyginiaethau sy'n cynnwys haearn neu sinc, 2 awr cyn neu ar ôl y feddyginiaeth hon |
Do not take milk, indigestion remedies, or medicines containing iron or zinc, 2 hours before or after you take this medicine | Peidiwch â chymryd llaeth, meddyginiaethau camdreuliad, neu feddyginiaeth sy’n cynnwys haearn neu sinc, 2 awr cyn neu ar ôl cymryd y feddyginiaeth hon |
Do not take more than . . . in 24 hours | Peidiwch â chymryd mwy na .........mewn 24 awr |
Do not take more than . . . in 24 hours. Also, do not take more than . . . in any one week | Peidiwch â chymryd mwy na .........mewn 24 awr, Hefyd, peidiwch â chymryd mwy na ........mewn wythnos |
Do not take more than 2 at any one time. Do not take more than 8 in 24 hours | Peidiwch â chymryd mwy na 2 ar unrhyw un adeg. Peidiwch â chymryd mwy nag 8 mewn 24 awr |
Protect your skin from sunlight—even on a bright but cloudy day. Do not use sunbeds | Diogelwch eich croen rhag golau'r haul, hyd yn oed ar ddiwrnod braf ond cymylog. Peidiwch â defnyddio gwely haul |
Space the doses evenly throughout the day. Keep taking this medicine until the course is finished, unless you are told to stop | Gadewch yr un faint o amser rhwng pob dôs yn ystod y dydd. Parhewch i gymryd y feddyginiaeth nes bod y cyfan wedi'i orffen, oni bai eich bod yn cael cyngor i stopio |
Spread thinly on the affected skin only | Taenwch yn denau ar y croen sydd wedi’i effeithio yn unig |
Suck or chew this medicine | Bydd angen cnoi neu sugno’r feddyginiaeth hon |
Swallow this medicine whole. Do not chew or crush | Llyncwch yn gyfan. Peidiwch â chnoi neu falu’n fân |
Take 30 to 60 minutes before food | Cymerwch 30 i 60 munud cyn bwyd |
Take this medicine when your stomach is empty. This means an hour before food or 2 hours after food | Cymerwch y feddyginiaeth hon ar stumog wag. Mae hyn yn golygu awr cyn, neu 2 awr ar ôl bwyd |
Take with a full glass of water | Cymerwch gyda llond gwydr o ddŵr |
Take with or just after food, or a meal | Cymerwch gyda neu ar ôl bwyd |
This medicine may colour your urine. This is harmless | Gall y feddyginiaeth hon liwio eich dŵr . Nid yw hyn yn arwydd o ddrwg |
Warning: Do not drink alcohol | Rhybudd: Peidiwch ag yfed alcohol |
Warning: Do not stop taking this medicine unless your doctor tells you to stop | Rhybudd: Peidiwch â stopio cymryd y feddyginiaeth hon, oni bai fod eich meddyg yn dweud wrthych am stopio |
Warning: Read the additional information given with this medicine | Rhybudd: Darllenwch y wybodaeth ychwanegol gyda'r feddyginiaeth hon |
Warning: This medicine makes you sleepy. If you still feel sleepy the next day, do not drive or use tools or machines. Do not drink alcohol | Rhybudd: Bydd y feddyginiaeth hon yn eich gwneud yn gysglyd. Os ydych yn dal i deimlo'n gysglyd drannoeth, peidiwch â gyrru, defnyddio offer llaw neu beiriannau. Peidiwch ag yfed alcohol |
Warning: This medicine may make you sleepy | Rhybudd: Gall y feddyginiaeth hon eich gwneud yn gysglyd |
Warning: This medicine may make you sleepy. If this happens, do not drive or use tools or machines | Rhybudd: Gall y feddyginiaeth hon eich gwneud yn gysglyd. Peidiwch â gyrru, defnyddio offer llaw neu beiriannau os yw hyn yn digwydd |
Warning: This medicine may make you sleepy. If this happens, do not drive or use tools or machines. Do not drink alcohol | Rhybudd: Gall y feddyginiaeth hon eich gwneud yn gysglyd. Peidiwch â gyrru, defnyddio offer llaw neu beiriannau os yw hyn yn digwydd. Peidiwch ag yfed alcohol |
Publication date: 24 February 2016