New software will be rolled out at Sunshine hospital that will help non-English speaking patients communicate with nurses.
Health Minister Jill Hennessy was at the hospital today to announce the roll-out of a new iPad app that nurses can use when an interpreter is unavailable to communicate with patients who are unable to speak English.
The software has been developed in partnership with the CSIRO and uses written, audio, pictorial and video representations of phrases to discuss patient needs and treatment.
St Albans MP Natalie Suleyman said Western Health serves one of the most culturally diverse communities in the country, with more than 100 patients requiring interpreter services every day.
“We’re investing to ensure people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds can get the healthcare services they need, without the long waits for an interpreter,” she said.
The $270,000 project is one of 15 the state government has invested in as part of its new $10 million Better Care Victoria Innovation Fund.
The fund was launched six months ago and is led by an independent board chaired by former Australian Medical Association Board president Douglas Travis.
