‘Catastrophic’: Hospital bosses reveal system where paedophile worked on children’s ward for 18 years

James Geoffrey Griffin was stood down on full pay after one of his child sexual abuse victims came forward, as LGH bosses described failures at the hospital as “catastrophic”.

PROLIFIC paedophile James Griffin was stood down on full pay when he was finally charged – thanks to Tasmania’s “conservative industrial environment”.

The disturbing revelation was aired on Thursday at Tasmania’s child sexual abuse commission of inquiry by Griffin’s employer, Launceston General Hospital CEO Eric Daniels.

Mr Daniels admitted the hospital made “catastrophic” failures in dealing with allegations about Griffin.

A whistleblower told the hospital’s HR department it had a paedophile on its children’s ward as early as 2011 – but Mr Daniels said he had never been made aware.

He said Griffin was stood down with pay in July 2019 when his Working with Vulnerable Persons accreditation was suspended.

At that time, victim-survivor Tiffany Skeggs had made allegations that Griffin had sexually abused her, and Griffin had made confessions to police about that abuse.

“In Tasmania it’s a very conservative industrial environment. Until the time there’s been allegations substantiated or criminal charges confirmed, then an employee’s stood down with pay,” Mr Daniels told the commission.

He agreed with suggestions Tasmania’s Department of Health had an industrial relations focus before a child safety focus.

He admitted he’d been out of his depth.

Eric Daniels, the chief executive of Tasmania's North and North West hospitals.

Mr Daniels also agreed he had been “unprepared and overwhelmed” by the events of 2019, and failed to arrange a comprehensive investigation as to why a paedophile had been able to work on the children’s ward for 18 years.

“I unreservedly apologise for the failings that have occurred,” he said.

“I was not prepared for an event like this. I’d never encountered this problem previously and I don’t think I was prepared to manage it effectively.”

Also on Thursday, the hospital’s nursing and midwifery director admitted she’d failed to ensure Griffin’s direct manager – Sonja Leonard – was properly equipped and competent for her role.

Janette Tonks said she was aware the workplace was “toxic”, with turbulence on the 4K paediatric ward, and Ms Leonard being subject to a no-confidence motion from staff.

With Ms Leonard a “gatekeeper” to conduct complaints on the ward, Ms Tonks agreed the system for identifying perpetrators like Griffin had failed.

“None of us had any training in child sex abuse or grooming behaviours,” she said.

Janette Tonks, nursing and midwifery director at Launceston General Hospital.

Also on Thursday, the commission heard from Michael Easton, CEO of Tasmania’s Integrity Commission, who said he’d received a complaint from a 4K nurse.

Michael Easton, CEO of Tasmania's Integrity Commission.

That complaint included concerns that Griffin’s conduct had not been appropriately reported, that complaints by staff weren’t elevated, and that evidence and documentation at the hospital had been destroyed.

Mr Easton agreed the complaint expressed concern of a potential cover-up within the organisation.

However, he recommended the Integrity Commission not investigate the complaint, but that it be referred back to the Department of Health for assessment.

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Originally published as ‘Catastrophic’: Hospital bosses reveal system where paedophile worked on children’s ward for 18 years