Culture of fear at Bundaberg Hospital revealed in recent health check report

A new report into the internal culture of Bundaberg Hospital has revealed startling staff’s stark concerns about its handling of bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment claims in the workplace.

The WBHHS has been the center of controversy within the Bundaberg region.

A stark reality of the workplace culture at the Bundaberg Hospital has been laid bare in a recent report with a new survey of young doctors saying they are scared of reporting bullying in the workplace.

The 2023 Resident Hospital Health Check released on Wednesday revealed 100 per cent of respondents at the Bundaberg Hospital were concerned about the consequences of reporting bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment.

The survey, published by the Australia Salaried Medical Officers’ Federation Queensland and the Australian Medical Association, was completed by total of 723 junior doctors across 20 of the state’s hospitals.

While Bundaberg Hospital did not take part in the 2022 survey, the result marks a jump from 2021 where only 50 per cent of respondents shared the same concerns.

As part of the 2023 results, no respondents felt “reported incidents were appropriately addressed” and only 33 per cent reported they felt “there was anything [you] could do about it”.

In contrast, no respondents said they had experienced bullying, discrimination and sexual harassment though 13 per cent said they had both witnessed and experienced bullying, discrimination or sexual harassment.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service CEO Deborah Carroll. Photo: Supplied by WBHHS, Paul Beutel.

Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service CEO Debbie Carroll said they understood work needed to be done.

“We have zero tolerance for bullying and encourage all our health staff to speak up and report unprofessional behaviour,” Ms Carroll said.

“We understand that there’s still more to do, and we’ll continue to work with our senior medical staff, junior doctors and colleges to build a supportive and positive workplace culture.”

The report further revealed 13 per cent of respondents felt their safety had been compromised at work.

More than two-thirds (67 per cent) of respondents at the hospital were concerned about making a clinical error due to fatigue caused by hours worked.

Medical Education and Wellbeing Principal House Officer for the Bundaberg Hospital Emma Hodge said the facility had a “strong emphasis on regular feedback” which is contextualised by “evidence to inform ongoing refinements”.

She said the hospital is taking proactive measures to address the issues outlined in the Health Check report, and doctors were subject to a “formal wellbeing education program” which now covers sleep medicine.

“As part of our ongoing focus on wellbeing, we continue to encourage doctors to share any issues with us and we are committed to fully addressing all concerns.”

Patient advocate Beryl Crosby expressed disappointment at the results, but said she was not at all surprised.

Patient advocate Beryl Crosby expressed disappointment at the results, but said she was not at all surprised.

“At the end of the day, everybody’s fearful of speaking out and it’s shocking, but it’s been there for quite a long time and now it’s getting worse,” she said.

She said the reports showed the systemic problems which arose around reporting within the hospital system.

Ms Crosby said the Health Check report solidified the findings from a 2022 medication review which cleared the Bundaberg Hospital of allegations that staff used sedatives inappropriately, leading to death or harm.

The findings from the incident found workplace culture had impacted reporting procedures.

“The overall impact of workplace culture, does have a potential impact on reporting culture within the wards under investigation,” the investigation report said.

“The Health Service Investigation found that there appeared to be a lack of formal reporting in relation to incomplete documentation surrounding S8/DS4 (medications).”