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.
5 comments:
"The boss says he wants you to waltz a little".
In part, this problem arises from the fact that English does not have the legal status of an official language - as has Maori. This should be rectified at once.
Presumably competent medical staff from overseas have proven proficiency in English. So , using this language in clinical settings is no problem for them.
The alleged media request should be checked : possibly the patient at North Shore Hospital did not ask for a " Pakeha" doctor or nurse . The patient probably requested to be treated by a medical staff member who spoke fluent English so as to understand the imminent treatment. A perfectly normal request - linguistic not racist.
Well said, David. You have summed it up spot on.
That is just a plain, old fashioned, common sense approach.
Keep it simple !!
I got the impression it was nurses talking to each other in the immediate presence especially of patients which quite rightly caused annoyance. Are they making personal observations? Are they discussing home life/party life and not concentrating on the job in hand etc? Recognised bad manners.
Sooo, English " does not have not have the Legal status of an official language" - Hello, - anon @ 5.37 AM, 27 October - what language along side French, Dutch, German has been the mainstay language[s] around the world - a language more commonly used (even in the developing Americas) - than French (other than their Colonies), which even in France (today) English is the second language spoken.
That I can prove, having been there- " Non parlez vous francais" opened the conversation doors to some excellently spoken English/Englais - they had to, England was across the Channel, and not many "Poms" speak French..
Hells bells please do not let the English know that their language is NOT Legal, mind you the Welsh & Scots would
" dance in delight over this".
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