SA Pathology mystery continues with ‘no comment’ on alleged suspensions since August
It may take a forensic pathologist to get to the bottom of a mysterious controversy at SA Pathology – with officials sticking to a blanket “no comment” for months.
SA News
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Mystery continues to swirl over what is going on in the top echelons of SA Pathology.
Months after The Advertiser revealed senior staff allegedly were under suspension and an internal and separate external inquiry were underway, SA Health continues to refuse to provide any details.
In early October, Andrew Collins was installed as acting executive director of SA Pathology and remains in the job.
A detailed series of questions to SA Health on the issue was answered with a single line response: “We are unable to comment on matters relating to the employment of individuals.”
But SA Health previously has commented on matters relating to the employment of individuals.
In August, The Advertiser reported the suspensions of senior staff appeared linked to nepotism claims in hiring processes for jobs.
Multiple sources indicated to The Advertiser it involves claims of “jobs for the boys and girls” with new recruits with family ties allegedly hired without following proper protocols.
It’s not suggested that those hired were unqualified for the positions.
Staff were told several executives are “on leave” with no return date.
Health Minister Chris Picton has previously said: “Obviously we can’t comment on individual staff matters, that’s a matter for particular executives to manage in the normal course of employment.”
SA Pathology has had a turbulent history in recent years.
It faced privatisation over long-running inefficiencies and the threat of more than 300 sackings, but was saved by cost cutting and also by the arrival of the pandemic when demand for pathology services soared.
In 2016 its chief executive Ken Barr was sacked over a bungle revealed by the Sunday Mail when more than 100 men were given false positive results for prostate cancer, leaving them thinking they had cancer – including men who had already had their prostate removed.
In a written submission to a parliamentary committee, Mr Barr later claimed a culture of “fear and blame” pervaded the public health sector in SA.
In 2014, SA Pathology officials admitted they installed spy cameras to secretly monitor staff, which came to light when a whistleblower told then-opposition leader Steven Marshall.
SA Pathology said the covert surveillance devices were justified to investigate delays in processing patient results.
The cameras were disguised in smoke detectors and when staff became suspicious, they were told the devices were air conditioner thermostats.
An internal investigation ruled it was inappropriate but not illegal.
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