Several DHBs across the country either have in place or are rolling out training to improve their engagement with Māori in the Emergency Department. The Australasian College of Emergency Medicine is getting in right at the start of ED training with a new policy: Te Rautaki Manaaki Mana: Excellence in Emergency Care for Māori. An emphasis on understanding basic tikanga, language, pronunciation will mean the emergency departments will start to feel like somewhere Māori patients, whānau and staff feel they are the same as everyone else. The President-elect of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine Dr John Bonning and Dr Inia Tomas, co- chair of Counties-Manukau Manaaki Mana Excellence in Emergency Care for Māori explain why it's important.
Photo: Counties Manukau DHB
