The Pacific Cultural Resource Unit exists to provide:

• Cultural support to high need Pacific patients and their families who may be admitted to Middlemore Hospital inpatient services
• Support outreach follow-up for high need Pacific patients who are not able to attend outpatient clinics
• Cultural advice and support to staff and services working with Pacific populations

View the Pacific Cultural Resource Unit Pamphlet for more information (in English, Tongan, Niuean, Samoan & Cook Island languages).

Why is Cultural Support important?

Cultural support can have a real impact on clinical outcomes. Ignoring culture can lead to negative health consequences in many ways:

• Patients may choose not to access needed services for fear of being misunderstood or disrespected
• Clinicians may miss opportunities for screening because they are not familiar with the prevalence of conditions among certain minority groups 
• Clinicians may fail to take into account differing responses to medication or lack knowledge about traditional remedies, leading to harmful drug interactions
• Clinicians may make diagnostic errors resulting from miscommunication or order fewer diagnostic tests for patients of different cultural backgrounds because they may not understand the patient’s description of symptoms. Alternatively, clinicians may order more diagnostic tests to compensate for not understanding their patients
• Patients may not adhere to medical advice because they do not understand or do not trust clinicians

Staff may also require assistance to manage complex interactions where Pacific patients involve their wider family in their healthcare decision making.

How can Cultural Support be provided?

Cultural support for patients can be provided in a number of ways:

• Referral to interpreting services where translation and/or interpretation of information is required
• Training and development through attendance of cultural competency and awareness raising programmes

What are the Referral Criteria for Access to the Pacific Cultural Resource Unit?

Referrals to the Cultural Resource Unit for Pacific inpatient assistance may be made in the following circumstances:

(a)  Where Pacific patients request cultural support

(b)  Frequently admitted patients – Pacific patients who have been admitted more than twice in the last 12 months

(c) Unplanned readmissions – Pacific people with unplanned readmissions within 30 days of their discharge

(d)  Chronic Care Management Programme enrolees – to support continuity of care for those Pacific patients who are enrolled in the Chronic Care Management Programme, to provide opportunities to link and ensure consistent information on self management are provided

(e)  Where services identify a Pacific inpatient who may benefit from some cultural support intervention, for example:

• Pacific patients may not be co-operating or communicating clearly with staff despite being English speakers 
• There may be communication misunderstandings between patient and/or staff, staff may not be assured that patients understand the reason for admission, diagnosis and/or treatment options
• Extended family involvement in care that may be complicating patient decision making or treatment
• Religious and/or spiritual beliefs may be impacting on patient’s decision making 
• Use of traditional healing or alternative medications/therapies is suspected and is impacting negatively on patient’s care
• Communication difficulties – even where English is spoken, staff may perceive communication difficulties with patients and their families.

Referrals for frequently admitted patients, unplanned readmissions and Chronic Care Management programme enrolees are automated through an internal patient management system. Self referrals (a) and direct referrals (e) may be made directly to the Pacific Cultural Resource Unit.