Taskforce to investigate nurse recruitment in Aurukun

A Department of Health taskforce is investigating how a person came to be employed as a nurse by the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service at the Aurukun Primary Health Centre on Cape York, without being properly registered.

Health Minister Cameron Dick said the employment of a person impersonating a nurse by the Hospital and Health Service was totally unacceptable.

Mr Dick said, “A check of registration details for a nurse, conducted as part of the health payroll system, found the nursing registration number provided by the employee was not theirs.”

“I am concerned that the initial recruitment and screening for this person, which occurred in December 2014 and January 2015, did not reveal this issue.

“The Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service immediately took action to suspend the employee as soon as the discrepancy in registration had been confirmed,’’ Mr Dick said.

“However, I am advised that by that time the person had worked at Aurukun for about six weeks.’’

Mr Dick said the person involved had now been dismissed from the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service.

Mr Dick said, “Labor has made it clear that patient safety is a critical issue for this Government.”

“I have instructed the department to commence a full investigation into the circumstances leading to this appointment.

“I want to know if this case raises any systemic issues with HHS processes that need to be addressed.

“A full review of this person’s clinical work and patient contact during the entire six-week period they worked at Aurukun has commenced.

“I am advised that a complete clinical review of all interactions between this person and community members has also commenced.

The Acting Director-General of the Department of Health, the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health service and the HHS Chief Executive will be travelling to Aurukun to talk to community members about this issue.

There is some indication that this person may have been employed in other health systems in Australia.

“Other jurisdictions had been advised and I will be raising this issue with Australian Health Minister’s when we meet in April,” said Mr Dick.

Mr Dick said that this matter is a serious crime and it has been reported to the Queensland Police Service, the Crime and Corruption Commission and the Health Ombudsman.

ENDS

Media Contact:      Mike Meurer          0428 560 937