Six Justice Health nurses guilty of Unsatisfactory professional conduct after Parklea inmate death
Six Justice Health NSW nurses have been found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct following the death of an inmate in their care at a western Sydney prison.
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Six nurses have been found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct following the death of an inmate in a western Sydney prison.
The NSW Health Care Complaints Commission investigated allegations of unsatisfactory professional conduct against six nurses working for the Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network — contracted to work at the privately-run Parklea Correctional Centre.
The investigation came after allegations of “several failures relating to (the) treatment of a man who was found deceased in his cell” on the morning of December 7, 2017.
Registered nurses Rhondda Lee Stratten, Francis Bernard Balagtas and Jeremy Riley Nuevo were found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Meanwhile, enrolled nurse Sara Ellen Day, and registered nurses Tania Ngoc Lam Thy Nguyen and John Leslie Gallagher were found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct only.
The HCCC proved allegations in the tribunal’s proceedings that Ms Stratten failed to “implement the treatment plan ordered by the treating medical officer” for the inmate, who later died.
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“(The nurse failed to) ensure that the afternoon shift nurse unit manager and nursing staff were provided with a clinical handover of the patient as a patient of concern,” the HCCC argued. “(and failed to) ensure that clinical information regarding the patient’s clinical management details were recorded in the written handover or patient notes.”
The HCCC said the registered nurse failed to ensure that clinic medication was prepared by the same practitioner who was responsible for administering the medication.
Meanwhile, Mr Balagtas failed to read the clinical notes and health records of the patient, according to the HCCC.
The tribunal also heard that the nurse failed to ensure that the afternoon shift nursing staff were provided with a clinical handover of the patient as a patient of concern.
“(And failed to) ensure that clinical information regarding the patient’s clinical management details were recorded in the written handover or patient notes.”
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Regarding Mr Nuevo’s conduct, the HCCC was found to have proven allegations of “various failures” relating to the treatment of the inmate, including a failure to read clinical notes and health records, implement a treatment plan, respond to patient requests, accurately document or update clinical notes or handover clinical information.
The HCCC argued Mr Nuevo also failed to “seek appropriate approval to leave early and complete the nursing care and management shift he was rostered on to complete”.
Ms Day was also found guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct after the HCCC said she failed to read clinical notes and health records, or implement a treatment plan for the inmate.
Meanwhile, Ms Nguyen was also found to be guilty of unsatisfactory professional conduct after the HCCC said she failed to “accurately document the administration of medication that she administered to the patient” or ensure that clinical information were recorded in the written handover or patient notes.
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Finally, Mr Gallagher was also found to have failed to ensure that the afternoon shift nurse unit manager and nursing staff were provided with a clinical handover of the patient “as a patient of concern”.
The Tribunal said allegations Mr Gallagher failed to ensure that clinical information regarding the patient’s clinical management details were recorded in the written handover or patient notes were also proven.
A Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network spokeswoman said the department was “committed to delivering safe patient care in custodial settings”.
“Justice Health NSW apologises to the loved ones of the deceased who did not receive the healthcare he deserved,” she said. “The incident resulted in the matter being internally investigated and disciplinary action taken against six staff members, including referral of those staff to the Health Care Complaints Commission.
“Only one of the staff involved in the incident continues to work at Justice Health NSW, in a non-clinical role.
“The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal will determine what protective orders are appropriate following a further hearing — this hearing will specify if any further restrictions, orders or sanctions will be applied in respect of the nurses’ registration.
“Parklea Correctional Centre is a privately-operated correctional centre and Justice Health NSW monitors health service providers in the centre.”
Current operators MTC/Broadspectrum were not the contracted management for Parklea Correctional Centre at the time of the incident.
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