Burnside Hospital is committed to creating a strong community where diversity is endorsed and our staff, volunteers, patients and stakeholders flourish. We believe that diversity facilitates innovation, the development of better policies, a deeper understanding of the needs of our patients and stakeholders, and helps create a great place to work and volunteer.
Our inclusivity and cultural awareness enable us to be responsive and proactive to the needs of individuals in our policies and practices.
Specifically, we aim to focus on those who may be disadvantaged or vulnerable within our community which includes:
- Awareness of the needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people, their families and communities, and striving towards meeting the principles of reconciliation, through the development and implementation of our Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP).
- Acknowledging the unique strengths and barriers for LGBTQA+ people, their families and community in our provision of safe and inclusive workplaces and services, including a dedicated Ally network and partnership with Pride in Health and Wellbeing.
- Ensuring equality of access to our workplace and services for people living with a disability.
- Understanding and respecting people with diverse cultural and religious backgrounds.
- Ensuring a child-safe environment and respecting the views of children who access our services and their families.
- Providing a holistic person-centred approach to the care of older people
- Educating our staff on health considerations relating to people who are children, aged, sexuality or gender diverse, culturally diverse, from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander populations.
At Burnside Hospital, we embrace, endorse and celebrate difference.
We welcome feedback on our service.
Privacy for LGBTQ+ Patients
Burnside Hospital recognises that LGBTQ+ patients may experience higher levels of stigma when accessing healthcare.
We recognise that personal information should only be collected when necessary, and this especially relates to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Therefore, we undertake to ensure that:
- Any personal information collected from LGBTQ+ individuals must be necessary for, or directly related to, a relevant health service
- LGBTQ+ individuals must be aware of the purpose for which their personal information is being collected and stored
- Conversations requiring LGBTQ+ individual to disclose personal information are always confidential
- LGBTQ+ individuals must give consent if there is a need to share their personal information
We can assure you that:
- Our staff will be trained on how to communicate the privacy policy, how patient data is shared and stored, and who else has access to it, and
- Staff privacy policy training will continue on an ongoing basis for new and current staff
Additionally:
- Only those staff that are required to access a service user's medical records will have access to those records
- Test results remain confidential, and will only be disclosed to other parties with the express permission of the client or their authorised representative
- We will always tell you when, why and how information is shared with other companies, such as other health professionals or insurance companies
- Your personal information would only be shared without your consent where we have reasonable grounds to believe that your life is in danger or you need urgent medical assistance, or where there is a statutory requirement to disclose information.
