Victorian Health Minister David Davis launched Melbourne Health’s Respecting our Community Action Plan.

 

The plan aims to improve patient outcomes, increase staff training and strengthen community partnerships with respect to cultural diversity, with a specific aim in increasing quality of care and relationships with indigenous Australians, Torres Straight Islanders and people suffering from a pre-existing disability.

 

“Melbourne Health is to be commended for developing the Respecting our Community plan and for its strong commitment to delivering high quality, safe and culturally sensitive healthcare to Victoria’s diverse communities.” Mr Davis said.

 

“Patients of Melbourne Health are diverse in terms of culture, language, age, gender, ethnicity and socio-economic status,” Mr Davis continued.

 

Mr Davis expressed his hope that by improving the relationships between staff and patients, the hospital would be in a better position to treat patient  requirements and would ultimately lead to reduced hospitalization rates.

 

With over 50% of the hospitals patients born overseas, over 20% of the hospitals patients use English as a second language.

 

Further information is available at www.mh.org.au/