Māori experience culturally unsafe pre-hospital care, according to a Kaupapa Māori study. Semi structured interviews were conducted with ten Māori patients and/or whānau who had received acute care from paramedics for cardiac symptoms. Key themes identified were interpersonal workforce skills, access and service factors, and active protection of Māori. Paramedics’ clinical knowledge and interpersonal skills were described by participants, including appropriate communication and ability to connect. Limited personal and community resources, as well as workforce issues, were described as barriers to accessing ambulance services. Despite there being fewer reports of interpersonal discrimination than in previous research, systemic and structural barriers were found to be harmful to Māori. Efforts to address paramedic workforce representation, resource disparities and cultural safety education are needed, the study authors concluded.
