This followed a patient complaint about feeling “disrespected” by nurses speaking Malayalam, leading to an internal investigation.
The audio directive echoed recent policies at other New Zealand hospitals, including Waikato and Christchurch, where staff were told to speak only English in clinical settings to avoid confusion and ensure patient safety.
While some support the directive, citing safety, it has sparked anxiety within the Malayali community, with claims that it “unfairly targets” Indian staff and undermines their “cultural identity.”
The directive has raised broader concerns about 'workplace discrimination' and the treatment of ethnic minority nurses.
Some community members, such as Saju Cherian, a nurse from the Kerela Association, criticized the message in a report by state media as “inappropriate” and feared it reflected systemic issues of “racism and unequal job opportunities”.
Health NZ’s Chief Executive and the Health Minister have since clarified that nurses should exercise professional judgment in language use, and communication in other languages should be allowed when safe and appropriate.
Daily Telegraph New Zealand (DTNZ) is an independent news website, first published in October 2021. - where this article was sourced.
While some support the directive, citing safety, it has sparked anxiety within the Malayali community, with claims that it “unfairly targets” Indian staff and undermines their “cultural identity.”
The directive has raised broader concerns about 'workplace discrimination' and the treatment of ethnic minority nurses.
Some community members, such as Saju Cherian, a nurse from the Kerela Association, criticized the message in a report by state media as “inappropriate” and feared it reflected systemic issues of “racism and unequal job opportunities”.
Health NZ’s Chief Executive and the Health Minister have since clarified that nurses should exercise professional judgment in language use, and communication in other languages should be allowed when safe and appropriate.
Daily Telegraph New Zealand (DTNZ) is an independent news website, first published in October 2021. - where this article was sourced.
10 comments:
English in clinical settings is an absolute unless the patient has some language needing support. Speaking any other langaugae in the smoko room, totally acceptable.
If this is cultural insensitivity then forcing them to do cultural maori courses must also be disrespectful to their own culture....
Which is it?
Come to New Zealand then accept our culture where we speak English.
This is no different to my work in aviation. It's safety critical to communicate in a common language and, in both these instances, its English.
The breakroom is a different story, but on the workplace to avoid all confusion, English.
I do note in our multicultural breakroom everyone speaks English. That's just good manners.
English must be spoken in clinical settings unless the language of the patient is not English in which their native tongue could be used but the parts of both talkers should be translated into English for others present. The reason for this is accountability. Medical errors occur on a regular basis in hospital environments and it is easier to hold others to account when a common language that is understood by all staff and most patients and family members in the hospital environment is in use. Using another language other than English creates barriers to accountability.
Inevitable that this chaos would arise. English may be an official language in use - but this is not in law ( as is Maori). Urgent to correct this.
Also raises the issue : what is the language competence of new immigrants ever actually tested?
It has long been recognised as bad manners to use a foreign language in the presence of locals where reasonably avoidable (I recall a crowded tramping hut where two Germans, strangers to each other, conversed late into the night in thick English. No one took umbrage.). Then along came te reo and show offs delight in. Fortunately so many non maori have an undestanding that the speakers, totally against their disposition, are contained from sneering observation. If the nurses do not have English to the degree that they can converse, they should not be niurses in NZ.Someone should explain the traditon to them.Of course if patients have a genuine limited grasp of English, then use of their language is approprite.
Perhaps this requirement should equally apply to patients.
How much is the taxpayer being charged annually for the Gucci carrying translators who appear to be making hospital waiting rooms their operating base.
Surely the majority of these 'opportunists' could be replaced by the use of one of a number of translation Apps now available.
Better still would be the requirement that patients be accompanied
by a family member, friend, or community associate with the ability to converse in English. Ultimately if they do require a professional translator they should be charged for the service..
Isn’t it ironic that Maori is the official language of New Zealand?
There’s nothing racist about this, just basic respect for the wider community & application of common sense.
English outside the break room is an absolute requirement in all professional settings - whether medical, academic, financial, ISP or the public service.
It is one thing to speak in a language the patient actually requests, quite another to have conversations with coworkers in front of them.
This goes for Maori too. I guarantee if staff had been speaking in Maori the hospital would have called the patient racist, yet it’s the same principle.
I am so sick of hearing what just sounds like gibberish, every time I ring a business or government department. It’s no longer basic greetings, but additional words, phrases & sentences thrown in which is unnecessary & confusing.
English is our primary language. It needs to be made our official language so such idiocy, including Daniel Faitaua saying ‘kia ora’ when greeting an international guest like Graham Norton on Breakfast, stops.
Incidentally, if an English speaking guest is on a European television show - where their primary language is actually a foreign language) - they still greet them in English. So why can’t we?
I ask myself if a couple of Indian nurses are conversing in their own language in a public (note the word public) place what is the problem? What a lot of BS this is - its no wonder the health system in this country is on its knees. For goodness sake focus on what is important.
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