Claims Misrepresent Hospital's Indigenous ED Policy
St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne prioritises Indigenous patients over others only in less urgent emergency department cases. The policy excludes severe or life-threatening situations.
Clarifying the Policy
Despite social media claims, St Vincent's Hospital does not prioritise Indigenous patients regardless of medical need. Indigenous patients receive priority only within less urgent treatment categories compared to non-Indigenous patients in the same category. Urgent cases are not affected by this policy.
Social Media Reactions
- One post states:
“Under this policy, if you are Aboriginal and present at an Emergency Department, you will be prioritised based on race first rather than the severity of your health condition or immediate medical need.”
- Another post claims:
“The stench of racism can be smelt in Victoria now,”
referencing the state's recent Indigenous treaty legislation. - A further post links the hospital's triage instructions directly to Victoria's newly passed Indigenous treaty.
The claims surfaced shortly after Victoria's parliament passed a landmark Indigenous treaty bill.
Author's Summary
The hospital’s policy prioritises Indigenous patients only in less urgent emergency cases, and accusations of race-based priority over critical medical need are misleading.