The Baillieu Government has cut back on the number of interpreters available to patients at the Northern Hospital, according to the Victorian opposition.
Jenny Mikakos MP, Labor Member for Northern Metropolitan Region said this act is “simply outrageous” and believes it will force the elderly and sick to “rely on family members to translate for them in sensitive matters such an elderly woman with gynaecological problems having to rely on her son to translate for her.
“Elderly migrants will be the ones most affected by this decision as they rely heavily on interpreters to communicate effectively with their doctors,” she said.
“I am concerned that this may impact on patients’ ability to make informed decisions about their medical care as well as their understanding of their medical condition and treatment. There is a clear pattern of neglect emerging from this Government for people from disadvantaged backgrounds including migrants and our elderly.”
