A new policy encouraging NSW hospitals to provide "culturally appropriate spaces" for Indigenous patients and families will bring the state into line with national standards, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said.
NSW Health recently updated its statewide policy to include guidelines on providing culturally appropriate care for Indigenous patients, a spokesman said on Tuesday.
"The policy recognises that all vulnerable patient groups have specific needs and emergency departments should seek to cater for the specific needs of their local communities," the department said in a statement.
While the document does not mandate separate waiting rooms for Indigenous patients, it calls for a "culturally appropriate space" within each hospital to be identified.
Hospitals may also display Indigenous artwork as another way of being more inclusive and welcoming.
A trial on the Mid North Coast showed a 50 per cent reduction in the number of Indigenous patients leaving early from emergency departments after cultural awareness training for staff was introduced.
Indigenous leader Warren Mundine told 2GB the move was "bizarre" and is a "step too far".
"This idea that we’ve got to do all this segregation stuff all over again that we’ve got to treat people different… we’ve got away from that, we want to treat people equal and get the proper health services that everyone deserves," he said.
Mr Hazzard said many hospitals have already determined they want to introduce a culturally appropriate space.
"It isn't mandatory in the sense they've got to do it, it's mandatory in the sense you've got to think about what is culturally appropriate (and) what might help the local community," he told 2GB radio.
"It may not just be Aboriginal - it could be any of the local community."
The policy brings NSW into line with national standards, Mr Hazzard added.
"What they're saying is Aboriginal people still get absolutely appalling health outcomes."
In the state's west, the Wiradjuri language and imagery has been incorporated into the Forbes and Parkes hospitals.
"The policy is flexible, allowing local health districts to carry out initiatives in consultation with their local Aboriginal community to make their hospital settings more culturally inclusive, in ways that best suit the community," a NSW Health spokeswoman said.
Opposition health spokesman Walt Secord disagrees with the policy and says the state's 80 emergency departments are already under enormous pressure.
"I think it's a bridge too far," he told 2GB.
