Doctor suspension may go before PUP inquiry

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HEALTH Minister Lawrence Springborg says suspensions are “not uncommon” across Queensland Health, as a probe begins into the handling of the most recent Ebola scare that ended with two doctors being stood down.

The pair have been suspended on full pay after making internal concerns about the case public.

Mr Springborg said he was confident the ordered review would “establish if proper procedures were followed regarding the treatment of patients, Ebola and TB protocols, the release of private patient information, communications and the management of staff”.

He told Parliament that “false or conflicting information risks degrading those public health outcomes”.

“In two recent examples, this correct and considered flow of information has not been maintained,” he said.

“These cases are now the central focus of a report being commissioned by the Department of Health.

“A range of comments have been made about this report, prior circumstances and the decisions of the Cairns Hospital and Health Service to stand down two doctors from their duties.”

Mr Springborg said suspensions were far from rare, pointing to the fact that 49 Queensland Health staff had been suspended as at May 31.

“Across Queensland Health, suspensions are not uncommon,” he said.

“They occur to ensure staff on duty at public health facilities can work without distraction.”

He also welcomed the result of a meeting by the executive committee of the far north Queensland Senior Medical Staff Association about the suspensions.

The committee backed three resolutions, which included: “The SMSA regrets that comments made by the senior clinicians were used by the press in their reporting of the potential case of the Ebola virus. The association did not know of these comments until after they were made.”

The SMSA also said the “two senior clinicians involved were commenting on a rapidly evolving situation and with the benefit of hindsight have acknowledged that this was unwise”.

It has resolved to develop procedures for “responsibly releasing statements to the media”.

The SMSA asked that the matter be dealt with “locally”.

“It should be separate from the overall review of the management of the Ebola risk patient to avoid prolonging the process to the detriment of the two clinicians and local services.”

Mr Springborg said: “Details of cases and actions taken or recommended by clinicians must be presented in an accurate, timely and authoritative manner.”

“This is essential to maximise the impact of the clinical effort through wider action,” he told the Parliament.