Published Thursday, 05 February, 2009 at 05:56 PM
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Minister announces review into Bundaberg Hospital allegations
Health Minister Stephen Robertson and Director General Mr Mick Reid today announced Queensland Health would conduct a multi-faceted investigation into allegations raised about the Bundaberg Hospital Emergency Department.
Mr Robertson said he took any allegations of mistreatment or misconduct by Queensland Health staff extremely seriously.
"That is why I asked the Director General to travel to Bundaberg yesterday to meet the nurse and administrative staff who have raised allegations, as well as district Health Community Council chairman Mr Jim Mullett."
Mr Robertson said as a result of these meetings Queensland Health would immediately implement a number of actions.
A review of management action arising from 100 reports made on the hospital’s PRIME clinical incident management system, retrieved today, will begin on Monday.
This review is being conducted by Prince Charles Hospital’s Executive Director of Medical Services, Dr Stephen Ayre, and it is expected to be completed by 23 February.
“Two of these allegations have already been investigated but could not be sustained, however we will be looking at them again," Mr Robertson said.
Further, all PRIME reports from Bundaberg for the past three years (about 3000 in all) will be subject to a detailed review by Queensland Health’s Patient Safety Centre.
Results of both reviews will be provided to the Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
Dr Peter Brennan will review matters including Emergency Department management, culture, clinical practice, functionality, workflows, safety and design at Bundaberg Hospital started today and is to be completed within two weeks.
Dr Brennan is a medical doctor and experienced senior health executive from Victoria.
His review report will be released publicly.
Queensland Health’s Ethical Standard Unit will investigate allegations by a registered nurse that management ordered her to falsify or manipulate triage times.
This matter has been referred to Queensland Health by the Crime and Misconduct Commission, and a final report will be sent to the CMC by 23 February.
This report will be released publicly, subject to CMC approval.
The HQCC will investigate allegations involving the treatment of patients, and it is expected the results of these investigations will also be released publicly.
“I have made it consistently clear that I want every complaint about patient safety taken seriously and every whistleblower afforded every protection," Mr Robertson said.
Mr Robertson said since 2005 Queensland Health had implemented systems to ensure that all staff are encouraged to report any incident in a hospital, including whistleblower protections, the PRIME Reporting System, Queensland Health Ethical Standards Unit, and oversight by the independent CMC.
“I particularly welcome the involvement of the HQCC,” he said.
“The Queensland Government established the HQCC as an independent body to provide an open and transparent process and their involvement demonstrates this process works.
“I am determined that the allegations involving Bundaberg Hospital should be investigated as thoroughly and openly as possible.
“The involvement of the Crime and Misconduct Commission, Queensland’s independent Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) and a senior doctor and health executive from Victoria will help ensure this happens in relation to the allegations raised about Bundaberg Hospital.
"If any of these reviews show that any further action needs to be taken, this will happen immediately."
Mr Robertson said it would appear from the meetings there may have been a communication problem in feeding back that events logged had been investigated.
“That is why I have asked the Director General to prepare a broadcast to all staff that makes it clear that when PRIME incidents are reported the author is provided with feedback about the results of the investigation.
“I am also assured the Standard Operating Procedure for PRIME will be amended to ensure the communication loop is closed."
Director General Mick Reid said Sunshine Coast Wide Bay Health Service District chief executive officer Mr Kevin Hegarty would look at a range of workplace administration issues also raised.
“I am confident that the measures outlined above and the involvement of the CMC, the HQCC, Dr Brennan and experts from within Queensland Health will ensure we get to the bottom of all the allegations raised,” Mr Reid said.
Mr Robertson said he openly acknowledged Queensland’s population boom was placing pressure on Emergency Departments and he remained committed to tackling this head on.
“In the past four years we have nearly tripled the Bundaberg Emergency Department budget alone.
“We are also delivering a new Emergency Department due to be completed in 2010 as part of the Bligh Government’s $41.1 million hospital redevelopment.
“We know there is more to do and that is why we will not take our foot off the accelerator for one moment,” Mr Robertson said.
Ends.
MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or 0458 449 267
Mr Robertson said he took any allegations of mistreatment or misconduct by Queensland Health staff extremely seriously.
"That is why I asked the Director General to travel to Bundaberg yesterday to meet the nurse and administrative staff who have raised allegations, as well as district Health Community Council chairman Mr Jim Mullett."
Mr Robertson said as a result of these meetings Queensland Health would immediately implement a number of actions.
A review of management action arising from 100 reports made on the hospital’s PRIME clinical incident management system, retrieved today, will begin on Monday.
This review is being conducted by Prince Charles Hospital’s Executive Director of Medical Services, Dr Stephen Ayre, and it is expected to be completed by 23 February.
“Two of these allegations have already been investigated but could not be sustained, however we will be looking at them again," Mr Robertson said.
Further, all PRIME reports from Bundaberg for the past three years (about 3000 in all) will be subject to a detailed review by Queensland Health’s Patient Safety Centre.
Results of both reviews will be provided to the Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
Dr Peter Brennan will review matters including Emergency Department management, culture, clinical practice, functionality, workflows, safety and design at Bundaberg Hospital started today and is to be completed within two weeks.
Dr Brennan is a medical doctor and experienced senior health executive from Victoria.
His review report will be released publicly.
Queensland Health’s Ethical Standard Unit will investigate allegations by a registered nurse that management ordered her to falsify or manipulate triage times.
This matter has been referred to Queensland Health by the Crime and Misconduct Commission, and a final report will be sent to the CMC by 23 February.
This report will be released publicly, subject to CMC approval.
The HQCC will investigate allegations involving the treatment of patients, and it is expected the results of these investigations will also be released publicly.
“I have made it consistently clear that I want every complaint about patient safety taken seriously and every whistleblower afforded every protection," Mr Robertson said.
Mr Robertson said since 2005 Queensland Health had implemented systems to ensure that all staff are encouraged to report any incident in a hospital, including whistleblower protections, the PRIME Reporting System, Queensland Health Ethical Standards Unit, and oversight by the independent CMC.
“I particularly welcome the involvement of the HQCC,” he said.
“The Queensland Government established the HQCC as an independent body to provide an open and transparent process and their involvement demonstrates this process works.
“I am determined that the allegations involving Bundaberg Hospital should be investigated as thoroughly and openly as possible.
“The involvement of the Crime and Misconduct Commission, Queensland’s independent Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC) and a senior doctor and health executive from Victoria will help ensure this happens in relation to the allegations raised about Bundaberg Hospital.
"If any of these reviews show that any further action needs to be taken, this will happen immediately."
Mr Robertson said it would appear from the meetings there may have been a communication problem in feeding back that events logged had been investigated.
“That is why I have asked the Director General to prepare a broadcast to all staff that makes it clear that when PRIME incidents are reported the author is provided with feedback about the results of the investigation.
“I am also assured the Standard Operating Procedure for PRIME will be amended to ensure the communication loop is closed."
Director General Mick Reid said Sunshine Coast Wide Bay Health Service District chief executive officer Mr Kevin Hegarty would look at a range of workplace administration issues also raised.
“I am confident that the measures outlined above and the involvement of the CMC, the HQCC, Dr Brennan and experts from within Queensland Health will ensure we get to the bottom of all the allegations raised,” Mr Reid said.
Mr Robertson said he openly acknowledged Queensland’s population boom was placing pressure on Emergency Departments and he remained committed to tackling this head on.
“In the past four years we have nearly tripled the Bundaberg Emergency Department budget alone.
“We are also delivering a new Emergency Department due to be completed in 2010 as part of the Bligh Government’s $41.1 million hospital redevelopment.
“We know there is more to do and that is why we will not take our foot off the accelerator for one moment,” Mr Robertson said.
Ends.
MEDIA: Kate Van Poelgeest 3234 1185 or 0458 449 267