Claims misrepresent hospital's Indigenous ED policy

Claims Misrepresent Hospital’s Indigenous ED Policy

AAP FACTCHECK has clarified that St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne is not prioritising Indigenous patients over all others, regardless of medical need, contrary to claims circulating on social media.

What the Policy Actually States

The hospital’s emergency department policy gives Indigenous patients priority within the same non-urgent treatment categories. This means Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients may be treated first among patients of equal urgency. However, the policy does not affect severe, urgent, or life-threatening cases, which remain based solely on medical necessity.

Public Reactions and Misinterpretations

Several social media posts have spread misleading descriptions of the triage system. These posts appeared in the same week Victoria’s parliament passed a significant Indigenous treaty bill, leading some users to link the two developments incorrectly.

"Under this policy, if you are Aboriginal and present at an Emergency Department, you will be prioritised based on race first rather than the severity of your health condition or immediate medical need."

"The stench of racism can be smelt in Victoria now," another post said, referencing the state’s treaty.

"The recent hospital triage instruction where Aboriginal people were given priority access over all other patients tells everything you need to know."

Fact-Check Conclusion

The claim that all Indigenous people are prioritised in emergency care regardless of their medical condition is false. The actual policy applies only to less urgent categories and aims to ensure culturally safe and equitable care.

Author Summary

Online claims distorted St Vincent’s triage policy, which merely allows Indigenous patients equal but culturally respectful priority in non-critical cases—not universal preference.

Australian Associated Press — 2025-11-10