ICAC slams Central Adelaide Local Health Network ‘bully’ culture

A damning report into Adelaide’s top health network has found bullying from management is keeping workers from reporting serious problems.

Whistleblowers at Adelaide’s top health network, including doctors and nurses, are bullied with reprisals from bosses for reporting inappropriate conduct, the state’s anti-corruption watchdog has found.

In a damning review, the office of independent Commissioner against Corruption Ann Vanstone KC uncovered a catalogue of failures at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network.

The network, which operates hospitals including the Royal Adelaide and Queen Elizabeth, had poor leadership, a workplace culture of fear and worker favouritism, the review found.

Authorities raised concerns that tolerating poor behaviour, or leaving it unchecked, fuelled corruption.

SA Health said it accepted ICAC’s 25 recommendations, which senior bureaucrats would address with Commissioner for Public Sector Employment, Erma Ranieri.

It includes overhauling complaint rules, having a new internal inquiry code of conduct, a public list of disciplinary sanctions and worker guide book.

More than 18,000 workers are employed at the network, including 2000 doctors, 6500 nurses and 2000 allied health professionals such as psychologists, pharmacists, physiotherapists or occupational therapists.

Central Adelaide Local Health Network CEO Lesley Dwyer said the organisation would redouble its efforts to fix the problems. Picture: Brenton Edwards

It also operates Hampstead Rehabilitation Centre and provides services for SA Dental, Prison Health Service, SA Pathology, BreastScreen SA, SA Medical Imaging and Pharmacy SA.

The evaluation reviewed details on complaints received, investigations conducted and sanctions imposed between October 1 2019 and March 31 this year.

The evaluation, headed by deputy commissioner Paul Alsbury, criticised management failures.

“In respect of the Network’s workplace culture, the presence of bullying and harassment underpins a reluctance by employees to report (problems),” the review found.

“This is particularly an issue where employees who might be the subject of a complaint are in positions of authority.

“The Commission was provided with information that suggests management does not consistently encourage the reporting of inappropriate behaviour with some employees suggesting reporting is even discouraged to avoid reprisals from those with power.

“This is perhaps more of an issue for junior employees who must consider the consequences of reporting the very people who make decisions about their future career opportunities.

“This is an unenviable dilemma. Some employees were not confident that, if they did make a report, anything would be done about it.”

In a scathing evaluation tabled in parliament on Wednesday, the agency criticised “deficiencies” of complaints that produced conflicting punishments.

Investigators found one worker could be handed a warning for the same offending that another employee was fired over but who was subject of a different internal inquiry.

The 92-page report found workers reported certain unnamed groups of employees who are “treated more favourably than others during the complaint process”.

Concerns were also raised about the length of investigations.

Investigators found one worker was cleared after a year after evidence was ignored for 10 months.

An ICAC survey found a third of network employees did not even know how to report problems even if they wanted to.

Mr Alsbury said it was vital for the public sector to have working complaint and internal investigation rules with appropriate punishment.

“Behaviours become normalised and accepted, leading to corruption or other misconduct and the failure of public administration to serve the South Australian public’s best interests,” he wrote. “Ultimately, the reputation of the public sector suffers.”

New SA Health chief executive Dr Robyn Lawrence, said department officials – who were subject of a scathing ICAC report in 2019 – accepted all recommendations that would be implemented.

“Bullying and harassment has no place in SA Health,” she said.

“Our state’s health workers must be able to feel safe, respected and supported when they’re at work.”

The network’s boss, Lesley Dwyer, said it would “redouble our efforts to make sure these behaviours have no place here”.

“(The network) is absolutely determined to continue our work in creating a culture that is safe and respectful, and a workplace where staff can be their best,” she said.

She said a range of reforms already included overhauling workplace culture and complaints management with new staff programs.