Final report from the independent review into the handling of Cairns Ebola case and other infectious diseases including tuberculosis has been tabled in parliament.
Report has been released in a limited format with large sections redacted for undisclosed reasons. This is despite Ministers promise of full and open disclosure of the findings from Queensland Health’s review into infectious disease management within the Far North.
The report into the health department’s investigation was completed on December 12 and released publicly late yesterday afternoon.
Report clears the two doctors who were suspended for 10 weeks after speaking out about potential mismanagement of infectious disease at Cairns Hospital of any serious wrongdoing. The doctors have been allowed to return to work by December 20.
Two senior clinicians were stood down from the hospital after they criticised the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service (CHHHS) for its “bizarre” management of a suspected Ebola case last month.
Cairns nurse Sue-Ellen Kovack, who had worked in West Africa with Ebola victims, was later cleared of the potentially fatal disease after being placed in isolation at Cairns Hospital.
She had developed a mild fever upon her return to Australia, one of the symptoms of Ebola, and was quarantined in the emergency department of the hospital.
The report also found that the decision to treat Ms Kovack in the emergency department rather than in isolation “generally complied with relevant clinical and administrative policies”.
“The standard and quality of clinical management and treatment of (Ms Kovack) was of an acceptable standard for the information available at the time,” the report states.
Investigators also found that there was no disaster plan or strategy in place for Ebola at the hospital.
Together Union Cairns organiser Dr Sandy Donald said the specialists had not yet given a clear indication they would return to the hospital.
“ … there’s the consideration of what it’s done to their reputation,” he said.
Final Report:
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/Documents/TableOffice/TabledPapers/2014/5414T6723.pdf