Doctors Defend St Vincent’s Hospital Emergency Department Triage Policy Amidst Political Debate
Melbourne, VIC – Medical professionals are defending a triage policy at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, arguing it represents progress in “closing the gap” in healthcare access for First Nations people, as a political dispute over the initiative intensifies. The policy, which prioritises First Nations patients within the category three wait time bracket, has drawn criticism from the Liberal and Nationals coalition, while health experts maintain it is ethically sound and addresses systemic disadvantages.
Former nurse ie Crozier described the policy as “divisive” but stated it does “not contravene long standing multiple medical and nursing codes of conduct, and medical ethical considerations”. She emphasized, “The triaging of patients should be based on medical need, not based on race.”
The Liberal and Nationals coalition claims Labor has neglected community and primary healthcare, positioning thier own approach as a solution for better health outcomes for all Victorians, including Indigenous communities.
However,a Victorian government spokesperson countered that emergency departments always prioritise the sickest patients,adding that St Vincent’s ED team has “done remarkable work to close the gap in category three wait times - the difference between First Nations patients and other patients is now just four minutes.”
Abe Ropitini, Population Health Executive director at the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and a proud Māori and Palawa man, expressed disappointment that politicians are “using this issue as a political football.” He asserted, “It is indeed a basic expectation of our health system that everybody is entitled to equitable outcomes.”
Ropitini explained that equitable outcomes require acknowledging that First nations people often face disadvantages when accessing healthcare, stating, “Access to healthcare is a 50-metre race and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are starting 100 metres behind the start line.” He also noted that VACCHO has received numerous concerns from the community regarding the divisive nature of the debate, notably given ongoing efforts to create more welcoming health spaces for First Nations people.
