Waikato public hospital has told nurses not to speak to patients in any language other than English.
A memo sent to all nursing staff last Friday, obtained by RNZ, said concerns had been raised about other languages being used, and that exclusive use of English in all clinical settings was safer for treating people.
A doctor who saw the memo said it was clearly aimed at Indian, Filipino and Pasifika nurses, who were healthcare “heroes” but were now being victimised.
No one is being victimised by being asked to speak in English in health clinical settings, just as English is also the required language for aviation. The need for clarity and clear communication saves lives.
Having said that, there should be some flexibility. If both parties to a conversation are more fluent or comfortable in another language, then I have no problem with that being used. So if a patient is more fluent in Mandarin, and a health professional speaks Mandarin, then that helps clear communications.
However if there are more than two people present, then English should be used unless everyone can understand the other language. You shouldn’t have one healthcare professional unable to understand what is being said.
David Farrar runs Curia Market Research, a specialist opinion polling and research agency, and the popular Kiwiblog where this article was sourced. He previously worked in the Parliament for eight years, serving two National Party Prime Ministers and three Opposition Leaders.
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