Independent investigation launched into alleged data washing at Northern Hospital

An independent investigation has been launched into damning allegations staff are routinely doctoring records at the Northern Hospital to meet workload targets.

An independent investigaiton has been launched into alleged data washing at Northern Hospital. Picture: supplied

An independent investigation has been launched into damning allegations of data washing at the Northern Hospital amid claims patient records have been doctored to meet KPIs.

Less than a week after the Herald Sun revealed the shock claims, it has been confirmed consulting firm EY has been engaged to formally investigate.

The investigation is expected to include an audit of thousands of patient records and interviews with emergency department staff to determine whether records have been falsified to show patients being offloaded from ambulances within target times.

Screenshots of internal hospital systems, obtained by the Herald Sun, allegedly show offload times being falsified by up to an hour in some cases.

It means the hospital can show it is meeting a new statewide target to transfer 90 per cent of patients from ambulance to hospital staff within 40 minutes.

Executives at Northern Health, which operates the Northern Hospital, have repeatedly hosed down concerns about the alleged data washing saying there is no evidence of the practice.

“Northern Health takes this matter very seriously and is committed to a transparent and thorough investigation,” a spokesperson said.

“To ensure independence and integrity, we have commissioned an external inquiry, which is now underway.”

A consulting firm has been engaged to formally investigate data washing claims at Northern Hospital. Picture: Ian Currie

On Monday emergency department union members of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation unanimously rejected claims by the executive that there was no evidence of systemic data washing.

“Members are disappointed in the messages they have received from senior Northern Health staff to date,” a resolution seen by the Herald Sun said.

“Members want data and patient records to be accurate and reliable, and to rely on senior staff to ensure this is the case, most particularly as this means that ANMF and its members will be more empowered to advocate for better and safer ED staffing.”

It said any independent review should investigate as far back as September 2023 and involve cross-referencing patinet offload hospital data with Ambulance Victoria records.

And it called for Northern Health chief Debra Bourne to issue a direction to all staff that “that directs to never engage in the retrospective alteration of data with the purpose of meeting departmental KPIs.”

“This direction should also emphasise that safe patient care is always paramount and should always take priority over KPis and the arbitrary KPI time frames.

“The direction will also include detail of how, post independent investigation, there will be a report back of the results and continuous ongoing monitoring and review.”

Following the investigation the ANMF has called for a further review of clinical needs and staffing levels.

And it has demanded staff and not “threatened, intimidated or harassed about alleged failure to meet KPis”.

“Hospital KPis are not individual nurses’ responsibilities. Nurses have a responsibility to safe patient care and their professional standards first and foremost.”

New ambulance offload benchmarks were introduced in February for the state’s 17 busiest emergency departments to improve patient transfer times and get paramedics back on the road sooner.

Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas threatened hospitals with “consequences” if they failed to meet the tough new standards.

Originally published as Independent investigation launched into alleged data washing at Northern Hospital