Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency report reveals more than 850 complaints were made against medicos in 2019-20

More than 850 medical professionals were the subject of complaints last financial year with more than 50 relating to sexual misconduct.

A total of 857 medical staff in SA had complaints made against them, from breaching sexual boundaries to fraud, in the past financial year.

The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency’s annual report shows that 176 notifications were mandatory and related to impairment, alcohol and drugs as well as failure to obey certain standards. Fifty-eight complaints related to medical professionals breaching sexual boundaries.

The report reveals AHPRA successfully prosecuted two nurses who pretended to have credentials they had not earned.

In total, AHPRA received 930 complaints concerning 857 different practitioners.

Of the sexual boundaries complaints, 19 were against medical practitioners, 11 against nurses, nine against psychologists and eight against paramedics.

“The serious nature of sexual boundary notifications is reflected in the outcomes of closed matters,” the report states.

“Action was taken more often in sexual boundary matters compared to other notifications with 10.9 per cent of all sexual boundary matters resulting in a caution or reprimand.”

Nationally, almost 40 per cent of sexual boundary notifications result in immediate suspension.

The report also shows that 579 reports are still being investigated or assessed by the health practitioner watchdog.

In more than two thirds of cases assessment does not continue to a full investigation.

An AHPRA spokeswoman said that while the national number of notifcations had increased the overall percentage of health practitioners subject to notification remained the same.

“The top three reasons for a notification were clinical care, 43.5 per cent, medication issues, 9.9 per cent, and communication, 7.2 per cent.

Of 11 prosecutions conducted by AHPRA, two were in South Australia.

Helena Heaft pleaded guilty to 66 charges of representing herself as a registered nurse in aged care facilities.

Fake nurse Helena Heaft covers her face as she leaves the Adelaide Magistrates Court in Adelaide, Friday, October 11, 2019. Picture: AAP / Kelly Barnes

She was initially sentenced in the Adelaide Magistrates Court and given a $500 good behaviour bond as well as more than $10,000 in fines.

On appeal the sentence was increased and Heaft was ordered to complete 80 hours of community service.

Alison Mibus also claimed to be a nurse when she was not registered.

She was fined $10,500 and ordered to pay several thousand dollars in court costs and levees.

The Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner’s annual report shows that more than 402 prisoners made complaints about both the public and private prison system.

The majority of the complaints related to the quality of the care they were receiving and the clinical choices being made by medical staff.

Nationally, 35,000 medical professionals returned to registration to help in the battle against COVID-19.

AHPRA chief executive Martin Fletcher paid tribute to medical professionals across the country for their work during the crisis.

“2020 has shown us all how much we rely on health practitioners at the frontline to keep us all safe,” Mr Fletcher said.

“We acknowledge and thank all health practitioners who have responded with such professionalism and commitment to keep us safe.”