Colac Area Health staff avoid major punishment for ‘fake patient’ scandal during minister visit

Staff at a regional hospital who posed as patients during a visit by Victoria’s health minister — including one who arrived in an ambulance — have been ordered to undergo counselling, the Department of Health has ruled.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas (second from left) during the August visit. Picture: Supplied

Staff at a regional hospital who posed up as fake patients in a bid to prove the service was busy during a ministerial visit will be forced to undergo counselling.

A long-awaited Department of Health investigation into the fake patients scandal at Colac Area Health has found that while the stunt had no impact to patient care, it could have.

“The incident was inappropriate and does not align with our expectations under the Health Services Act or the Victorian Public Sector (VPS) Code of Conduct,” the Department of Health said in a statement on Wednesday.

A group of staff at Colac Area Health’s urgent care centre posed up as patients, despite not needing medical care, during a visit from Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas in August last year.

Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas (second from left) during the visit. Picture: Supplied

Earlier this year, Ms Thomas slammed the stunt, which was referred to the Ombudsman and IBAC by the government.

Instead, an investigation by the Department of Health was established.

It found at least one ambulance attended the Urgent Care Centre with a patient but they did not require medical treatment during the event.

In a statement on Wednesday, the Department of Health said Colac Area Health will determine whether the stunt organisers should face further disciplinary action.

“Individual action has not been recommended by the investigators for those who posed as patients,” it said.

“However, all staff will be counselled on the seriousness of the matter and reminded of how they can speak up and of their responsibilities under their workplace agreements and the VPS code of conduct.

“We support the investigator’s recommendations for CAH, which are centred on ensuring staff are made aware of the seriousness of what occurred, including that it had the potential to impact patient care, and that there is a safe ‘speak-up’ culture with clear avenues for staff to raise concerns.”

Victoria Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas said the behaviour was ‘completely unacceptable’. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Ms Thomas on Wednesday labelled the behaviour “completely unacceptable”, adding she never expected health professionals to try and “deceive a government minister”.

“We do know that at least one person who did not require medical treatment arrived at the hospital in an ambulance,” she said.

“We also know that at least one person who was a staff member was on a trolley.”

Ms Thomas said the staff members were registered as patients in the urgent care centre.

“Their registrations were later cancelled when I had left,” she said.

The health minister slammed those involved for taking actions that could have put public safety at risk.

“Taking actions that potentially put the health and safety of patients in our public health system at risk, is a very very serious matter.”

The health minister wouldn’t be drawn on whether the staff involved should be fired, saying that was a matter for the health service.

Ms Thomas said nothing seemed out of place on the day, adding that she had “no reason to think that anything was untoward”.

“It’s certainly not something that ever crossed my mind that a health service would work to deceive a government minister in such a way,” she said.

She said she had “no reason whatsoever” to believe this was occurring in any other health services.

Ms Thomas confirmed Ambulance Victoria were also investigating.

She called on opposition leader John Pesutto to apologise for suggesting the health minister’s staff were involved.

She also took aim at Liberal MP for Polwarth Richard Riordan who at the time had sought to play down the seriousness of the allegations.

At the time Mr Pesutto had called for an inquiry, putting him at odds with Mr Riordan, whose wife works at the regional hospital.

“Mr Riordan, the member for Polwarth, was very quick to come out and say that in fact, this behaviour … was okay and in fact, standard procedure,” she said.

“I think as a former Board Chair of Colac Area Health, Mr Riordan has questions to answer as to whether in fact he’s ever overseen or endorsed behaviour like this in the past.”

One of the fake patients arrived in an ambulance. Picture: Daniel Pockett

Colac Area Health interim chief Steve Moylan said the organisation is reviewing evidence and will consider whether staff face penalties.

“We are sorry for what occurred in the Urgent Care Centre, it is highly regrettable and we’ve accepted all recommendations from the independent investigation,” he said.

“Whilst the investigation found there was no impact to patient care, we know the incident posed a potential risk and that’s something we will ensure doesn’t happen again.

“Colac Area Health is committed to learning from this incident and to keep building a better health service for our community, including by acting on the recommendations to strengthen our internal culture and also consider any further action.”

A government spokeswoman said the unpredictable nature of urgent care meant the stunt could have impacted patients in need.

“Putting the health of potential patients at risk is incredibly disappointing and entirely inappropriate,” she said.

“Victoria is home to a health system filled with talented, dedicated and hardworking doctors and nurses, and this behaviour is a blight on the world-class care they provide each day.”