Ms ROSOL question to MINISTER for HEALTH, Mr BARNETT
Earlier this year, two nurses raised serious allegations about a former staff member at the Launceston General Hospital. Under oath, they shared concerns that certain deaths at the LGH had not been reported to the coroner when they should have been. Your government then announced a review into the matter. At that time the Greens asked will you commit that the terms of reference will be made public and that final or any other reports on this will be made fully public? You replied, ‘yes, there are no issues with that’.
The review’s terms of reference state it would prepare a comprehensive report. Yesterday, the Department of Health issued a media release with findings, including those six deaths assessed by a single staff member be referred to the coroner. However, there was no report. Does a report exist? Is it still your intention for it to be made public, and if so, when? Has this former staff member been referred to police or any other authority?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question and her interest in this matter. It is appreciated. All members of parliament have a special interest in this matter.
I also recognise, if it is correct, Ms Duncan in the Chamber today. She is one of those who provided evidence. I acknowledge her bravery and her willingness to come forward and share that before that parliamentary committee in February this year.
I indicate how important the government takes this matter. I thank you for all those questions. I will step through the relevant answers to that. As a government and as a parliament, we want to ensure all Tasmanians receive the best possible care in a safe and supportive environment.
That the allegations raised before the House of Assembly Select Committee on Transfer of Care Delays in relation to allegations of a failure to report some deaths occurring in Tasmania’s public hospitals are undoubtedly extremely concerning. That is why we acted immediately. That is why we established an independent investigation with a clinical panel established to properly investigate the claims. Specifically, the independent panel focused on three areas: reviewing identified patient deaths to determine if these cases are reportable deaths; making recommendations in cases that require follow-up actions, including open disclosure with next of kin, disciplinary action or reporting to regulatory or other agencies; and reviewing all public hospital death reporting procedures to ensure procedures meet all relevant legal and clinical reporting standards and have appropriate escalation protocols to allow clinicians at any level to request an internal review of decisions relating to a death within a hospital.
The panel was led by Adjunct Professor Deb Picone AO. She has undertaken a significant amount of work and I thank her and the panel for her work. I was briefed on this verbally on 29 April, and I was advised that there was no evidence that indicates there is a systemic issue. That was confirmed in the report from Dale Webster yesterday. The department must follow through due process for the referral to the coroner. You made references to Dale Webster’s release yesterday, and referrals will be made to the coroner. That includes contacting the families and providing them the information and support that they need.
I understand the community interest in this matter. It is a very complex matter. The answer is: yes, the report will be made available as soon as possible. The report is not complete. I received the verbal briefing. I do not have the report, but when it is available, I will absolutely make it available to you and to the public. It is a very important matter and I thank the honourable member for her question.
