Melbourne’s Saint Vincent Hospital aiming to improve Indigenous care

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Peak medical bodies have backed a Melbourne hospital helping to close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in its emergency department. First Nations patients presenting to St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne had been waiting longer for care until a new triage policy was introduced.

Transcript

00:00No one likes to wait in ED. Some wait longer than others, and serious consequences can result.

00:08Our First Nations patients were waiting two to three times as long for care in certain triage categories

00:14and also weren't waiting for care three times more often than non-First Nations patients.

00:20So for over a year this hospital has aimed to initially treat all First Nations patients within half an hour,

00:26and it's moving the dial.

00:28There's been no difference in the waiting times for our First Nations patients, which has been absolutely fantastic.

00:35They say this applies to about two of the 150 or so patients seen each day.

00:40I want to be absolutely clear that this policy has not resulted in any increased waiting times for any non-First Nations patients.

00:47We value every single patient that comes here to see us.

00:51The Victorian Government supports the policy it called remarkable work to close the gap.

00:55The opposition says triaging of patients should be based on medical need, not race.

01:00Nationally, Indigenous people have a higher burden of disease and are dying about eight years younger than non-Indigenous people.

01:07Facts that underpin a Commonwealth and State commitment to close this health divide.

01:12This policy is closing the gap in action.

01:14Peak medical bodies, including the AMA and the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, back the hospital.

01:20The nuances and complexity of Indigenous health means we need to actually have more equitable access to care.

01:25This is an innovative, evidence-based policy that's showing good outcomes and that should be celebrated.

01:30This policy has been named a finalist in the state's Public Health Care Awards for its success in closing the gap in wait times.

01:38Access to health care is a 50 metre race and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are starting 100 metres behind the start line.

01:46Do not plan.

01:47Do not plan.

01:50Will not plan.

01:51Do not plan.

01:521

01:56Follow us.

02:01Use jobs byuras to protect our children's aged.

02:05Mayras to protect our children's aged'if to live their lives and Europiges.

02:08We do not plan.

02:09Do not plan.

02:10Do not plan.

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