Hospital interpreters
Sir, — It is good to read (“The Press,” June 9) that somebody (C.A.R.E. in this case) cares for the human rights of all people in this country, not just the white majority. The lack of hospital interpreters, making communication difficult, has been brought to light by a recent death. The attitude of Mr H. T. Dean, chairman of the North Canterbury Hospital Board’s finance committee (“The Press,”- June 4) reflects prevalent values of putting money ahead of human welfare: printing hospital information (as available in English) for Maori and other Polynesian patients in their own languages would be a waste of time and money for a “handful of people.” This statement is shocking. Surely, some translators would give their service free of charge, printing to be paid by the Hospital Board, perhaps with a small grant from a Government which recently paid $BOOO for repairs of Sir Keith Holyoake’s car. — Yours, etc.,
MARGARET MAYER. June 9, 1979.
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Press, 13 June 1979, Page 18
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159Hospital interpreters Press, 13 June 1979, Page 18
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