North Richmond Community Health review exposes injecting room culture clash
After two health workers were arrested in an alleged drug trafficking bust at North Richmond’s controversial injecting centre, the needle exchange is set to be moved out of the centre, along with community outreach workers.
VIC News
Don't miss out on the headlines from VIC News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A needle exchange and outreach service will be moved out of North Richmond’s controversial injecting centre, after two health workers were snared in a drug trafficking bust.
Two outreach workers from North Richmond Community Health, the service that runs the injecting room, were among eight people arrested in the October sting that police claimed took out a drug distribution network.
The outreach workers did not work directly in the injecting room but offered harm reduction advice to local drug users.
Their arrests sparked an independent review by Dr Joanna Flynn that has found “gaps and shortcomings in governance, leadership, culture and workplace management” at the health service.
It also noted that the “rapid implementation” of the two-year injecting room trial had “put significant pressure on existing management structures”.
NRCH’s needle exchange and outreach services were moved into the injecting room’s purpose-built centre but will now be relocated amid a culture clash.
Dr Flynn found the clinical injecting room team and the alcohol and other drug program had “differing philosophies”, and called for “a strengthened approach to develop a shared culture”.
She also called for better access to the needle exchange and outreach services for “vulnerable client cohorts”.
“This includes those who: do not wish to be associated with the injecting facility; do not feel culturally safe in the facility; are excluded from attending the MSIR; and/or are sanctioned from the MSIR,” she said.
Dr Flynn backed the recent hiring of a new chief operating officer and a quality and safety manager, and recommended better pre-employment screening and more sophisticated support for employees with a history of drug use.
“Zero tolerance for (alcohol and other drug) use that does not impact on performance is contrary to contemporary service models in the AOC sector and does not align with existing government policy,” Dr Flynn said.
MORE NEWS:
CHRISTMAS DAY WEATHER FORECAST REVEALED
ELDERLY MAN BRUTALLY BASHED TRYING TO SAVE DOG
AFL REVEALS END-OF-YEAR RULE CHANGES
A North Richmond Community Health spokeswoman said the service had “committed to make changes” recommended by Dr Flynn, with Mental Health Minister Martin Foley adding that work was already under way “on implementing every single one”.
“What occurred at North Richmond Community Health was simply unacceptable,” he said.
“That’s why this review was so important and we’re satisfied these recommendations will ensure they continue to deliver high-quality services to the community, including the medically supervised injecting room.”