'Regrettably, the response from Te Whatu Ora has been inadequate'
Health NZ-Te Whatu Ora has come under fire from unions after a recent incident at North Shore Hospital in Auckland, where a patient's request not to receive care from any staff of Asian ethnicity was initially accepted.
The New Zealand Nurses' Organisation (NZNO) and the Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) have expressed strong dissatisfaction with Health NZ's handling of the situation, calling for more action to combat systemic racism within the health sector, The New Zealand Herald reported.
NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku criticised Health NZ's response, saying the incident highlighted broader issues of racism in healthcare.
"We recognise the importance of patient rights. These should not come at the expense of the rights and dignity of our health care workforce," Nuku said as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
Nuku referred to the Waitangi Tribunal's WAI 2575 inquiry, which underscored longstanding inequities in healthcare for Māori and other ethnic groups.
Despite the government's commitment in 2020 to address these issues, Nuku said Health NZ had not done enough to fulfil those promises.
"Regrettably, the response from Te Whatu Ora has been inadequate, demonstrating another failure to tackle racism and systemic issues," she added.
Not a good employer in the case
The incident at the North Shore Hospital was initially confirmed by the ASMS, which refused to provide details on the incident.
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But Sarah Dalton, executive director of the ASMS, also expressed dismay at the hospital's handling of the situation.
"I don't believe Te Whatu Ora acted as a good employer in the way it chose to manage this issue," Dalton said as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
"And based on what has happened since, we don't believe management responded well. And it would also seem they have tried to prevent our members from talking to us about the issue, and that's a massive concern to us."
Health NZ responds to backlash
Health NZ has also declined to provide specific details about the incident, citing patient privacy. However, they emphasised their commitment to staff safety and ensuring patients receive the care they need.
"Our kaimahi [staff] deserve to be able to come to work and to do their jobs safely, without fear of aggression, violence, or racism. We are committed to ensuring that we provide an environment where our people feel safe, valued, and respected," the organisation said as quoted by the New Zealand Herald.
"We respect our staffs' right to engage with their union or professional body."