GALLAGHER MISSING IN ACTION OVER BULLYING IN HEALTH
The latest reports of bullying in the ACT Health system raise serious questions about the culture and processes for complaints received within ACT Health.
Health Minister Katy Gallagher must address the concerns raised by staff, and tell the community what she will be doing to resolve what appears to be a culture of bullying in her Department, Shadow Minister for Health, Jeremy Hanson, said today.
“Further reports of staff being subjected to harassment and bullying in ACT Health indicate that the problems are more widespread than the Minister would have us believe,” Mr Hanson said. “More current and former staff have come forward with their own personal stories of being subject to workplace bullying and ACT Health management not addressing concerns adequately.
Over 40 formal complaints have been lodged in the last three years but almost half of those complaints have been lodged this year. This is in addition to the complaints made by Obstetrics staff to the current Inquiry into bullying.
“As in the case of the Obstetrics department, it also appears that there is broad dissatisfaction with the way that complaints are handled by the Department and by the Minister. The acting chief executive is reported in today’s media admitting that ‘some things could be done better’. If this is the case, what measures has the Minister put in place to make sure complaints are dealt with appropriately?
“I am disappointed that the Minister has not bothered to respond to serious concerns raised about the Department’s handling of these complaints. ACT Health staff work in a very demanding environment and deserve to do so free from bullying and intimidation, with the assurance that if they do make complaints, they will be treated fairly,” Mr Hanson said.
14 June 2010
