Caboolture Hospital independent inquiry ordered into whistleblower claims of substandard care
An independent inquiry has been ordered into Caboolture Hospital after whistleblowers claimed patients are dying and being maimed.
QLD Politics
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The surgical department at Caboolture Hospital will be subject to an independent inquiry following shocking allegations by whistleblowers that patients are dying and being maimed as a result of substandard care.
Metro North Health Board Chair Jim McGowan announced on Thursday he would launch an independent external review into surgical services at Caboolture for “transparency and community confidence”.
The move follows a week of reports in The Courier-Mail that uncovered serious allegations made by former and current staff that included people dying as a result of botched surgeries, people being maimed, surgeons performing operations that are not trained in and a toxic workplace culture with widespread bullying and harassment.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said following Thursday’s report that revealed a doctor at the hospital had complained to Caboolture Hospital executive director Angie Dobbrick almost one year ago warning that patients were at risk and some surgeries were booked in by surgeons not trained in doing them she asked for evidence that the complaint had been thoroughly investigated.
“There was not clear evidence that this had been thoroughly investigated in relation to the complaint,” she said.
“I asked for information to satisfy myself, as did the director general, had that complaint been received? had it been properly followed through? And I was not satisfied with the response I got overnight, so I can’t have full confidence and then the public can’t have full confidence that all proper processes have been followed.”
She said she wanted the independent inquiry to be done quickly and encouraged any current or former patients to come forward if they had concerns about their treatment.
Mr McGowan said the external review would provide an independent assessment of the claims and allegations that have been made, identify the effectiveness of the processes that have already been put in place and make recommendations for further improvements as appropriate.
“Caboolture Hospital takes all staff and patient claims incredibly seriously, and any and all claims are reviewed thoroughly, including those that have been publicly raised,” Mr McGowan said.
Nurses Professional Association Queensland state secretary Aenghas Hopkinson-Pearson said that the government’s concession to finally launch an inquiry into Caboolture Hospital was a win for patient safety and addressing Queensland Health’s toxic bullying culture, but did not go far enough.
“Patient care is at the heart of everything a nurse does,” he said.
“At its core, rampant bullying and unsafe practices have allowed the Caboolture Crisis to spiral out of control.
“In order to achieve good health outcomes, these issues need to be addressed at their core, and it’s only because of the good work of the majority of nurses and doctors at Caboolture that this crisis isn’t worse than it already is.”
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