Claim fake patients used in Health Minister Mary Anne-Thomas’ hospital visit

Claims that 10 staff members at a regional hospital posed as “patients” propped up on sick beds for a ministerial visit have sparked a major probe into the health service.

Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas visited Colac Area Health on August 9 last year. Picture: Supplied

A major investigation has been launched over a “fake patient” scandal in which a regional hospital is accused of staging a full emergency department for a ministerial visit.

The Herald Sun has confirmed the matter was referred to both IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman after Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas visited an urgent care clinic run by Colac Area Health in August last year.

The Department of Health is investigating allegations that at least 10 patients, claimed to be Colac Area Health staff and family members, were admitted into a hospital bed where they pretended to be sick ahead of Ms Thomas’ visit.

“The Department of Health is aware of a complaint made and continues to investigate the allegations raised,” a department spokeswoman said.

“We’re working closely with Colac Area Health on the matter and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.”

The Allan government has threatened “serious consequences” if the allegations are confirmed.

A spokeswoman said it referred the matter to both IBAC and the Ombudsman after a whistleblower made a complaint to the Victorian Public Sector Commission in late August last year.

Each integrity agency said the matter didn’t fall within their scope.

An investigation has been launched into claims staff members posed as patients for the Health Minister’s visit. Picture: Supplied

The Department of Health will report back to Ms Thomas once their investigation is finished.

“This alleged behaviour is completely inappropriate and, if found to be true, there will be serious consequences,” a spokeswoman said.

Ministerial visits or events to health services are organised directly by hospitals in conjunction with the Department of Health.

Ms Thomas on Thursday said she was aware of the investigation.

“We take all these allegations very seriously. They are being investigated but that investigation is ongoing and I don’t have anything further to add to that,” she said.

“If these allegations prove to be true this is a very significant breach of trust that has been perpetrated by some in the health service and I certainly would take a very dim view of any employees or others who have been involved in this.”

Ms Thomas said the emergency ward was busy during her visit but she had “no reason to be suspicious about what I saw”.

She ruled out any involvement from her ministerial office.

“This has nothing whatsoever to do with my office and if anyone is suggesting that I take great offence,” she said.

“I don’t need anyone to tell me that our hospitals are under pressure.

“I visit health services all the time. I see what’s happening on the ground.”

Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas said she had ‘no reason to be suspicious’ during her visit to the health service. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Ms Thomas was visiting the hospital’s Urgent Care department after it was awarded $221,500 to purchase new heart monitoring equipment.

It included 13 new cardiac monitors, two central cardiac monitoring screens and two electrocardiogaph strip printers.

Sources close to the hospital said staff felt a desperate urge to impress upon Ms Thomas the need for further funding.

Local MP Richard Riordan, who served on the board of Colac Area Health, said the service had lobbied the government over successive elections for much needed funding.

He said the Urgent Care department still needed extra funding.

Opposition Leader John Pesutto suggested Ms Thomas and her staffers knew about the “fake patients”, accusing the health minister of trying to keep the scandal behind closed doors.

“Does anyone really believe that Mary-Anne Thomas and her office didn’t know about this?” he said.

“It was serious enough for the health minister to refer this matter to IBAC and yet she never told the Victorian people.”

Mr Pesutto called for the government to commission a “truly independent inquiry into this matter, not a sham inquiry that Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas and Premier Jacinta Allan can whitewash and orchestrate.”

Opposition spokeswoman for health Georgie Crozier demanded Ms Thomas “come clean” on the scandal, noting the investigation was occuring while Victorians were facing critical health issues and lengthy wait times for elective surgery.

“It seems that you can’t get a hospital bed in the state but you can if you’re a fake patient wanting a photo op with the minister,” she said.

“You can’t get an ambulance in the state unless you’re a fake patient and you want a photo op with the minister.”

In a statement, Colac Area Health board chair Timothy Greene said: “Our community is at the heart of everything we do, and we take all complaints and feedback seriously.

“We are aware of an anonymous complaint which is being appropriately actioned, and we are unable to comment further at this time.”

The scandal was first revealed by the regional newspaper Colac Herald.

Colac Otway Shire councillor Tosh-Jake Finnigan said the community’s faith in the local health service had been “shattered”.

They alleged that Colac Area Health CEO Fiona Brew, and Board Chair Tim Greene, are “up to their neck in allegations that staff members and their family members were falsely admitted”.

“The board of Colac Area Health must immediately remove Mr Greene from his position as board chair and appoint an independent investigator to get to the bottom of this scandal,” they wrote on Facebook.

“If Mr Greene does not stand down or the board will not remove from this role, Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas must immediately sack him, and any board members seeking to keep him on.”

Sources have told the Herald Sun the health organisation is involved in an ongoing industrial dispute.

Questions have also been raised about the leaking of patient records.

It comes as new data shows Victoria has the equal lowest rate of available public hospital beds, with 2.3 beds per 1,000 people.

Productivity Commission data released this week shows median ambulance response times were worse also in 2022-23, reaching 12.5 minutes compared with 11.8 minutes in 2021-2022.

The number of GPs across the state has fallen, and wait times for elective surgeries have blown out.

Shadow Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Georgie Crozier, said: “These figures confirm that Victorians continue to be punished for Labor’s incompetence.

“Higher costs, ambulance delays, and longer wait times for essential care are the real-world consequences of Labor’s mismanagement of our health system.

“Under Labor, too many Victorians are struggling to get the care they deserve. Instead of investing to deliver better health system performance and patient outcomes, Jacinta Allan is cutting health funding because under Labor, Victoria is broke.”