Hospital tour aims to help improve access to healthcare

Canterbury Hospital has joined a local council initiative that supports new residents, particularly refugees and asylum seekers, living in the area – providing information about the hospital and its services so they’re better able to access healthcare. 

First introduced in 2022, Canterbury Bankstown Council’s Welcome to Canterbury Bankstown Tour includes visiting council facilities, community services in each council ward, local parks and now the hospital has been added to the itinerary.  

“We know learning to navigate a new healthcare system can often be a barrier to people accessing care, particularly for those who speak a language other than English at home,” Michael Morris, the hospital’s General Manager said. 

“This is one way we are working together to be able to improve new residents’ understanding of how the healthcare system works and the services available at our hospital to ensure people are better able to access care when they need it,” he said. 

Data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics in 2021 shows that close to 60 per cent of the Canterbury community speak a language other than English at home. 

Led by the hospital’s Community Participation and Volunteer Manager Sue Baker, 12 residents joined the latest hospital tour which included a visit to the Emergency Department, the paediatric and maternity wards and the outpatients and x-ray departments. 

“Hospital staff explained the Emergency Department’s triage process and demonstrated how the x-ray machines work. We also provided information about our Dental Clinic, child and family health and community health services available at the hospital,” Sue said. 

The tour was also an opportunity to share information about the important role General Practitioners play in the healthcare system as well as the team at the Sydney Health Care Interpreter Service. 

“Language and literacy can have a significant impact on people’s ability to access to healthcare and their understanding of health information. Our tour participants learned about the benefits of using the Sydney Health Care Interpreter Service,” Sue said. 

The Service provides patients, families and their carers free, confidential and professional health care interpreters when using public health services – and is able to be arranged by staff at the hospital if needed. 

Canterbury Bankstown Council has partnered with community services provider Metro Assist in Campsie to run the Welcome to Canterbury Bankstown Tour. 

“These tours help people learn more about the services and programs available and connect with other people which we know supports successful settlement. The people who attended the tour of the hospital found it interesting and very informative,” Suha Al-haddad, a Community Worker with Metro Assist, said. 

There are further tours planned. 

“We are appreciative of Canterbury Bankstown Council involving us in their Welcome to Canterbury Tour and we’re looking forward to building on this partnership and welcoming more residents on their visit the hospital in the future,” Michael said. 

For more information about the hospital tour, please contact Sue Baker Community Participation and Volunteer Manager at Canterbury Hospital via Suzanne.Baker@health.nsw.gov.au