Reports of distrustful and dysfunctional relationships, a lack of service culture and poor communication within Canberra Hospital have surfaced in a leaked report.
A 2012 independent review of the hospital’s Medical Officer Support Unit, has revealed a “complete breakdown” in the relationship between the unit and their client groups and called for a review of the structure and leadership of the unit.
The 51-page report was recently obtained by The Canberra Times but never publicly released.
Health Minister Simon Corbell said it was never publicly released as it was commissioned internally to inform the then executive director “on the structure, functions and services interactions of the unit and to provide recommendations for their improvement”.
The unit’s role was to provide “operational, human resource, education and day-to-day support” for junior medical officers at Canberra Hospital.
The unit was merged with the Medical and Dental Professional Standards Unit last December.
Mr Corbell said the new structure ensured a more coordinated approach to the medical administration of senior and junior medical staff.
The review revealed there had been “widespread, ongoing reports of dissatisfaction with the performance of the MOSU among various staff groups within the Canberra Hospital” and the dissatisfaction had persisted despite an internal review and a significant restructure of the unit a year earlier.
Concerns raised in the review included poor communication and an absence of service culture within the unit, and the review found the unit’s structure with “separate managers” was “top heavy, dysfunctional and inefficient”.
It said the unit was performing below hospital and client expectations and was “regarded by many as obstructive rather than helpful”.
Mr Corbell said all 20 recommendations from the 2012 review had been actioned and completed.
The recommendations included one calling for a review of the unit, looking at its structure, ways to improve efficiency and that the “review should strongly consider reducing the number of management positions to clarify lines of accountability and allocate more personnel towards the delivery of frontline client services”.
It was also recommended the unit institute regular meetings and that the Canberra Hospital executive establish “clear business rules setting out areas of accountability and delegated levels of authority”. It recommended the complaints handling process within the unit be reviewed.
Mr Corbell said following a recent accreditation survey in July, Canberra Hospital was awarded three years accreditation as a junior medical officer training site, which was the highest possible accreditation status.
The process saw ACT Health as the first health service to be accredited to new Australian Medical Council Standards.
He said much work was done to addressrecommendations from the 2012 review and to achieve the current accreditation status, including staffing and policy changes, more engagement of senior staff and an e-rostering solution.
The review revealed there had been many complaints, broadly relating to issues including difficulties with recruitment, poor communication, “lack of consultation with respect to major decisions”, poor responsiveness to complaints and “lack of professional respect”.
“Persistent negative experiences have coloured the views of JMOs and many senior people within the hospital to the point that there is minimal professional respect for the unit from the general hospital population,” the report said.
Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson said it was “seemingly” another damaging report highlighting “the dysfunctional management” of ACT Health and the Canberra Hospital.
“We have recently seen similar reports from the Obstetrics unit and the gastroenterology unit and repeated stories of poor patient care and a toxic work environment,” he said.
“What is (Mr Corbell) going to do to fix the dysfunction in our hospital? And, will he commit to retaining the health portfolio, or is it only a temporary arrangement pending the appointment of a sixth minister?”
Mr Corbell has stood by Canberra Hospital, saying it delivered a high standard of care to the ACT and surrounding NSW community.
“If issues arise, ACT Health is active in addressing recommendations for improvement,” he said.