‘There is nothing in any workplace as bad as SA Pathology’ warns health staff advocating body
SA Pathology staff are training to deal with escalating bullying and harassment, their advocating body warns.
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The advocating body for SA Pathology workers says the culture of bullying is so bad it threatens the welfare of staff and patients.
The Professionals Australia chief, Sarah Andrews said they would begin training sessions for members to deal with the escalating problem.
She said the issue came to a head in October last year when some staff were bullied into not performing urgent tests for a seriously ill child.
Ms Andrews said Professionals Australia had tried to solve the problems involving verbal and minor physical abuse ever since.
“We are extremely concerned about the management of bullying and harassment in SA Pathology and we are of the strong view that there is an ongoing risk to staff and patients,’’ she said.
“We represent professional workers like engineers, scientists, pharmacists, IT professionals, architects but there is nothing in any workplace as bad as SA Pathology.
“The last resort now is to empower our members with training to identify and address the bullying for the sake of themselves and their staff.”
In a survey, one worker told the association: “SA Pathology staff work incredibly hard to ensure the safety of patients.
“Overtime, short lunch breaks, delaying toilet breaks is common practice. Scientists and technicians do whatever possible to provide the best care available for patients”.
In a letter to Health Minister Stephen Wade last month, Ms Andrews asked for action after the survey found 33 per cent of employees had witnessed bullying and harassment, some becoming suicidal. In a letter of response to the organisation, posted on Thursday, Mr Wade rejected the complaints and said they had all been investigated properly.
The letter says: “Patient care is the first priority of the Government and for SA Pathology. I am assured that patient care has not been compromised.
“The assertion that staff had been directed not to perform urgent tests for a seriously ill child is categorically incorrect.
“The patient samples were assessed in terms of priority and need and the appropriate testing protocols were applied.’’
There are 93 SA Pathology collection sites across the state, which mainly provide medical sample collection and medical testing services for patients in the public health system. The Advertiser revealed in June that 200 staff had applied for redundancies as a result of major reforms.