From “stuck” to satisfied: Aboriginal people’s experience of culturally safe care with interpreters in a Northern Territory hospital
From “stuck” to satisfied: Aboriginal people’s experience of culturally safe care with interpreters in a Northern Territory hospital
BMC Health Services Research
- Author(s): Kerrigan, Vicki, McGrath, Stuart Yiwarr, Majoni, Sandawana William, Walker, Michelle, Ahmat, Mandy, Lee, Bilawara, Cass, Alan, Hefler, Marita, Ralph, Anna P.
- Published: 2021
- Volume: 21
- ISBN: 1472-6963
Abstract: Globally, interpreters are underused by health providers in hospitals, despite 40 years of evidence documenting benefits to both patients and providers. At Royal Darwin Hospital, in Australia’s Northern Territory, 60-90% of patients are Aboriginal, and 60% speak an Aboriginal language, but only approximately 17% access an interpreter. Recognising this system failure, the NT Aboriginal Interpreter Service and Royal Darwin Hospital piloted a new model with interpreters embedded in a renal team during medical ward rounds for 4 weeks in 2019.