Staff at a remote Queensland hospital have reportedly been told to stop speaking foreign languages while at work after unofficial complaints.
The email obtained by The Courier-Mail from a 'higher-up' worker tells employees if they continue to talk to one another in a language other than English they could be referred to human resources.
"I have received a few complaints lately about staff speaking in their own language in front of others,” the email reportedly read on 4 January.
"This makes people feel paranoid and isolated and it is to stop immediately.
"If I get any other complaints the matter will be referred to HR."
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But North West Hospital and Health acting chief executive Barbara Davis denied senior management sent an email to staff, despite an investigation underway.
"Senior management at (the hospital) has not issued any directive to staff to speak only English whilst on duty," a statement sent to SBS News read.
"We are looking into this matter and if anyone within the hospital has issued such a communication without the authorisation of senior management, they will be counselled.
"Communicating clearly with our patients and visitors is always an absolute priority. But there is no requirement for staff to speak only English amongst themselves at any of our health facilities.
"We have received no formal complaints from any staff, patients or visitors at (the hospital) about staff speaking amongst themselves in languages other than English."
A Queensland Department of Health spokesperson also said there was no requirement for staff to have to only speak English in hospitals.
Data from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing showed there were a growing number of nurses born overseas, including a six per cent increase of nurses from India, that were taking up jobs in Australia.
The other larger proportions of nurses born overseas in 2011, other than the United Kingdom and New Zealand, included China and Malaysia.
In 2011, 12 per cent of doctors and specialists born overseas were from India, marking an increase since 2001.
