Calling Anna Bligh . . .

Anna, do you personally think it's right for the Queensland Government to slug its workers (even the likes of cleaners, clerks and nurses), with individual bills for tens of thousands of dollars, when they pursue their rights under anti-discrimination law? And if you don't think it's right, what are you going to do about it? And if you've got amnesia on the subject (30% satisfaction polls are stressful), here's a quote from Kay Dibben's Courier Mail article (July 2008, 16 months ago), to remind you . .

In the third case, a Royal Brisbane Hospital cleaner, who had studied medicine overseas and had worked as a theatre wardsman interstate, claimed race and age discrimination after his applications for permanent theatre positions were rejected. Queensland Health has paid Corrs Chambers Westgarth $18,000 so far, with the matter still to be heard in the Anti-Discrimination Tribunal.

. . . so I look forward to your timely and compassionate written response - as even though Kay Dibben's caustic comments didn't (quite obviously), shame you into doing the right thing, I now think it's time you did.

You may remember the campaign by a friend of mine, and myself, for safer school transport (we were mentioned in the Australian Federal Parliament) - because your friend Steve Bredhauer certainly would. We slept and camped on his office steps in the run up to the 2001 State election (with an article about us, and our photos, in the last the Sunday Mail before polling). We also meticulously aimed our non-existent resources (e.g. email and phone calls), towards the local media in your more sensitive seats. Why? Because me (being politically naive at the time), asked an ALP old-timer (and very good friend of mine), about the most powerful and persuasive route to take. He stroked his chin for a couple of seconds, looked thoughtful, then said "Go for their marginals . . . "

So how many public servants do you have in your marginals Anna? Just wondering . . .

CC - Des Houghton (Courier Mail)

CC - Every member of the Qld State Parliament.

CC - Numerous other personal contacts & Qld email lists (please pass on)

Letter

Letter to the Editor, 82 words:

"Work for the Queensland Government? Think you have rights? Forget it. Anna Bligh's squeezing tens of thousands of dollars out of any employee with the nerve to fight their corner, hiring high-priced lawyers, dragging them through hearing after hearing, then sticking them with the bill. Everyone from cleaners to clerks are affected, you can't be too poor for our Premier. There's a dark and nasty streak beneath the show biz smile. Check out qhealthspeakout.blogspot.com/2009/10/letter.html to find out more."

Background to those comments HERE and HERE

Courier Mail, Saturday 24th October 2009

Just click on the pic to enlarge it, and make it readable.

Queensland Health, stop hiding . . .

K******,

I note you have completely avoided answering any of the serious questions I raised with you in my letter of 15th October 2009, and I've therefore attached it again for your convenience.

Firstly, if you need any further information from me (re the questions in my email 15th October 2009), please put each of your questions in dot point form, and I guarantee they will be answered within 24 hours.

Secondly, in view of my previous experiences with Queensland Health (and the current experience of some Queensland Health Employees), I would not go into any "Meeting" with management unless accompanied by a phalanx of lawyers, and I'm not willing to make that kind of outlay right now (though I guess your own pockets are deep re legal avenues, attached as they are to the public purse).

You have 10 questions from me in all. None of them are complex, and all of them (except the first, which you have much further detail on anyway), involves an over-arching policy issue.

Please respond to/answer those questions as I have requested (in the letter attached to my email of 15th October 2009, and attached again here). They are still outstanding, and will formally remain so until Queensland Health answers them in writing.

And lastly? Please don't continue to suggest I need "Counselling." The only remedy I need is direct answers, to direct questions.

Regards, Kim

Qld nurses, STILL punching bags?

Nurses at The Park stop work over lack of security

Courier Mail article 19th Oct 2009

. . . and here's the comment to that story I submitted to The Courier Mail:

Queensland Health is a disgrace. I'm a mental health nurse (RN), and I work in an acute psychiatric unit a stone's throw from The Park Centre for Mental Health (they often send us their too-disturbed patients). One of our very experienced, gentle and completely professional male nurses is going through hell (and huge legal fees), because he was accused of "Assaulting" a large, violent male patient who had first thumped him, and many others. He was told (in writing), that he wasn't entitled to "Natural justice" and forbidden from talking to his colleagues. Further, no nurse manager even bothered to speak to him first before he was suspended. As a result, the unit is now extremely dangerous because after seeing what has happened to their colleague, no-one is willing to restrain violent patients. Further still, even though management are aware of this ongoing and dangerous situation, they're ignoring it and refusing to do anything about it.

Problem solving for Q Health . . .

While the above might be usual Queensland Government tactics, here's some real solutions . . . to all the rot that's currently happening in a Q Health acute psychiatric unit . . .

• Scrap the internal Q Health investigation of the nurse who was accused of assaulting a patient, in the process of restraining a large, violent man who had first thumped the nurse, and multiple others. It is now (2 months later), far too compromised by internal politics and a completely amateurish approach (to what is, after all, a criminal matter). Hand everything over to the police (including all documentation to date), and let them deal with it. Further, as the police (one would assume), know none of the protagonists from a bar of soap, it's far more like they'll take a completely fair and impartial approach. In fact, the police should have been called in from the outset - which reminds me (after witnessing this debacle), if I'm ever accused of "Assaulting" a patient by Q Health, the first number I'll call is triple O . . .

• Appoint independent, outside investigators to the case of the nurse manager who (allegedly), either through malice or incompetence, failed to pass on vital information about an enrolled nurse who was suspended (re allegations of wrongdoing), e.g. that they had been formally cleared by patient safety services - with the nurse manager then (allegedly), taking further action which led to the acquisition of more witness statements against the enrolled nurse, and formal notification the Queensland Nursing Council (both re the already dis-proved allegations of wrong doing). Consider standing this nurse manager down from their current role while the investigation is underway, to prevent Q Health incurring any further (potential), liability for their actions.

• Issue a policy statement which makes it clear all psychiatric patients travelling in Q Health cars must do so with a driver (obviously), AND another nurse - or possibly two other nurses, depending on the acuity/risk level of the patient.

• Issue a policy statement which makes it clear nurses are not to be threatened with disciplinary action (which includes mentioning the Code of Conduct), when they voice safety concerns in relation to carrying out a directive. Their safety concerns must be investigated and addressed first.

• Appoint independent, outside investigators to survey staff re potential harassment and bullying, publish the results and make recommendations.

• Appoint independent, outside investigators to survey staff about their current refusal/extreme reluctance to restrain violent patients, publish the results and make recommendations.

Qld Health, I've paid my dues . . .

You can feel the fear in Queensland Health, and I certainly can. But you don't have to "Do" anything in particular to be a "Target." Queensland Health (and the public sector in general), targets just because it can. And like any bully, the only thing it responds to is someone standing up to them, and showing them they can be an even bigger b*****d. It doesn't matter how compliant, how good, and/or how quiet staff try to be (to protect themselves), they're still not safe.

I've been for coffee (a couple of times), with Susan Moriarty (solicitor and industrial law specialist), and the impression I have about the systemic corruption, dishonesty and horrifying viciousness within Queensland Health (and the public sector generally), just about makes my hair stand on end. Often, staff think it's their fault, in that if they'd done something differently, or maybe acted in another way, it wouldn't have happened to them - and they're a complete, quivering mess. But they're all just heads of corn, cut down by the same undiscriminating scythe. It's not personal, it's just one extremely vicious and completely dysfunctional system. It's also very scary for people to realise that's the kind of place they exist within, as you generally assume other people will treat you decently if you do the right thing. It's a bit like suddenly realising "Mummy" and "Daddy" are actually complete and utter monsters. In my own case, the unravelling of my "Normal" expectations was a very rocky, and quite eye popping journey - but now, there's no going back, as (to steal the words of Anastacia), I've Paid my Dues . . .

So the point is, my approach doesn't make people less safe, it protects them. The hereto un-touchable emperor is on notice, and just like any creature that thrives in the dark, it can't stand the light of day - and crawls away as fast as it can can from the smallest sliver of sunlight . . .

Qld Health, slammed on You Tube?

To-day, I spent a couple of hours over coffee with Brisbane solicitor and industrial law specialist Susan Moriarty. It was just general catch-up and social occasion, not a professional one. Susan represented me when I went through a very rough time at work (some rather nasty, vicious and provably false accusations were laid at my doorstep). We won. Handsomely. The new extension has doubled our floor space, though I'm not sure it will ever compensate for 2 years of unnecessary hell.

Anyway, Susan is the penultimate professional, never one to break a confidence, or divulge the slightest detail about her clients - however, her over-arching concerns about the gross mis-management of our tax-payer dollars in the Queensland Public Service made my hair stand on end. In fact, at one point, Susan paused and looked me, "Kim," she said, "your mouth is hanging open." It was.

The Queensland Government is regularly spending 6-figure sums on pursuing the most low-level employees, over the most trivial issues, and then (if they can get away with it), sticking the hapless individual with the bill. Of course, very often the ruse back fires, and we the tax payer cough up, either because the Queensland Government loses, or the hapless employee is broke. I wonder how many special care baby cribs, or open heart surgeries, this wilful and disgusting waste of money would buy?

From what I could make out, there are no checks and balances. HRM officers have open slather, and our open tax-payer cheque book, to spend (at will), on bloated legal fees. As for the employees on the other end of these expensive (and tax-payer funded), witch hunts, well, let's just say if the Queensland Government took a hammer to their head, it would be quicker (and more honest). Quite honestly, I got the impression Susan's finding it more and more difficult to witness this every day. And from what I gathered (correct me if I'm wrong Susan, this is just my personal impression), there's routine violation of what most people see as their most basic civil rights, once the Queensland Government targets them.

"Well," I finally said, "I do have a digital DVD recorder, quite a good one. Have you ever thought about You Tube?" Susan looked at me with increasing interest. I continued, "You probably know a competent journalist or two, you know, someone who could conduct a decent interview . . . " So, in that very simple way, a grand new project was born. Susan Moriarty, coming to a small screen near you sometime soon - and I guess (then), a great many more Queenslanders will be left with their mouths hanging open . . . And next? Maybe it's time for the "Hapless employees" on the sharp end to break the silence on You Tube too. What's to lose? Does the Queensland Government openly destroy the vocal and fearless? What do you think? And a note to finish this blog entry on? Maybe one of John Farnham's most famous songs . . . We're not going to sit in silence, we're not going to live with fear . . .

Message for Queensland Health . . .

Hi Queensland Health, here's a message for you . . . and here's another one . . .

Qld nurses, punching bags?

To the HRM manager who sits behind his large desk, in a comfortable chair, and is never, ever, called to protect himself and/or others from violent patients - please get off your rear and DO something when I tell you I am unsafe at work . . . and why am I unsafe? Because a Registered Nurse in my work place (psychiatric unit), was immediately suspended (no nurse manager spoke to them first), after it was alleged they assaulted a patient in the process of restraining a large, habitually violent and aggressive male who had thumped them (and others), several times. Not only that, nearly 7 weeks later, this nurse has yet to receive a single signed/dated witness statement. So, what's the predictable result? Virtually all of the nurses in my work place have lost confidence in handling violent patients, for fear they will be treated/accused in the same way. Nobody is willing (currently), to use approved restraint techniques, or even rest a finger on a patient, because they could be next.

But guess what? My HRM department is REFUSING to conduct an independent and confidential staff survey on this matter, one that will ask what management needs to do (and what management needs to put in place), in order to restore confidence - and then act on the published results.

And a further reason for such an independent and confidential survey? To protect staff from management retribution, and I write as nurse who has recently been threatened with the Code of Conduct (and harassed/bullied), in the same work place, for voicing legitimate safety concerns.

And if anyone (patient or staff), gets seriously injured while this impasse continues, Queensland Health will be very publicly in the dock (yet again) . . .

Natural justice for Qld nurses?

When I asked a senior Queensland Health Manager why a nurse accused of assaulting a patient (and immediately suspended as a result), has still not received (nearly 7 weeks later), any signed/dated witness statements, they wrote to me and suggested I should "Meet" them to discuss the issues, because I obviously didn't understand how Queensland Health handles serious complaints . . . Thanks for the offer, but could I suggest something simpler? Why not write to me (formally), and explain why this state of affairs is (apparently), acceptable and normal within Queensland Health? Then (without releasing any identifying details), I can post it to my blog so the rest of Queensland (and Queensland nurses), can "Understand" too . . .

Nurse fails to document alleged assault?

Further retort to a senior HRM manager who has refused to investigate an apparent serious lack of legally required nursing documentation . . .

A nurse in charge of their shift recently reported another nurse for (allegedly), assaulting a patient - but from all obvious appearances, completely failed to document the alleged assault in the patient's medical chart. However, the senior HRM manager who has been asked to investigate this (apparently), serious failure to provide a legally required record, has refused to do so - and has referred the complainant back to the same nurse managers who supervised and enabled the ommission in the first place.

In a nutshell, if a nurse witnesses another nurse assaulting a patient, they have a legal duty to document their observations in the patient's medical chart. This is for the protection of the patient, the protection of the nurse witnessing the alleged assault, and the the protection of the accused nurse. It provides formal and indelible evidence, to which all parties can refer.

If I (or any other nurse), are ever accused of assaulting a patient by the nurse in charge of the shift (or by any other nurse colleague on shift for that matter), I would insist they formally document their recollection of events in the patient's medical chart there and then. That documentation can then (transparently), be compared to a doctor's timely physical examination, and remains a part of the public record for any and all further court proceedings.

Further, here are the Queensland Nursing Council standards for nurse documentation:

http://www.qnc.qld.gov.au/upload/pdfs/information_sheets/Scope_of_practice_framework_2005_Framework_/Framework_information_sheet_03_Professional_documentation_standards.pdf

So, HRM manager, please get back to me by the end of the week to tell me if you are willing (or otherwise), to formally investigate this matter. If not, I'll report it to the Queensland Nursing Council, and inform them that I reported it to you first, but that I'm passing it on to them, because you failed to act.

Qld Health Bully Central . . .

To a senior HRM officer who may need some help understanding his job . . .

I'm AGAIN formally directing/asking you to investigate the ongoing workplace harassment that is ongoing in the X Health Unit. To-day (in response my formal complaint), you bluntly refused to do that unless I divulged personal confidences.

Further, the harassment cannot be investigated by the line managers you've named/suggested in your letter, because it's under these people that the current pathological culture has flourished. For these reasons, I am going directly to you. If there's anything about that frank message you don't understand, please contact me ASAP.

I've already formally notified you of the abuse/harrassment I've personally suffered from one of the managers you STILL suggest I go to (a complaint to which I've had zero response), but I'm not at liberty to divulge the painfully personal stories (several of them), that have been relayed to me in confidence. It's your job to actively seek that information. So do your job, and if you have any doubt about what that is, here's some official guidelines:

Prevention of Work Place Harassment Code of Practise 2004, Work Place Health & Safety Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney General

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/workplace/resources/pdfs/harassment_code2004.pdf

Please pay particular note to page 9 (section 6), of that document, where managers are directed to carry out anonymous surveys to actively assess the risk. I've already asked you to do that, but you've ignored me. So, why did you ignore a suggestion from me that is already contained in the Code of Practise you supposedly work under?

I expect to get your formal response on your willingness (or otherwise), to carry out an anonymous survey re work place bullying and harassment in the X Health Unit by the end of this week - and I would also (now), expect this survey to be carried out by independent, outside investigators.

Regards . . .

Witch hunters of Q Health . . .

This morning, I'm fuming. A nurse colleague of mine has been through hell for the past three months. She was suspended after a co-worker claimed they'd heard her describe how she'd advised a patient re ways to kill themselves. The co-worker making the claim wasn't even part of the private conversation (which was between my colleague and another nurse). But it seems my colleague had simply said, in a private conversation with another nurse, that there are more pleasant ways to die than drinking yourself to death, or words to that effect (in relation to an alcoholic patient she was very worried about). And anyone who has ever lived with someone dying a slow death through liver disease would probably agree. Talk about Chinese Whispers . . . Well, it seems the powers-that-be were worried enough to ask the patient directly about what my colleague had (or hadn't), said, around the beginning of August this year. And guess what? Seems the patient exonerated my colleague completely of any wrong doing at that time. But no, that wasn't good enough for the witch hunters of Queensland Health. They kept her on suspension for a further eight weeks, and not only that, they actively sought further staff witness statements against her, failed to advise her that they'd spoken to the patient (who had exonerated her), and reported her to the Queensland Nursing Council EVEN THOUGH THEY KNEW SHE WAS INNOCENT. However, my colleague has told me that a certain nurse manager did privately advise her (on one occassion), that she'd make any complaints against her stick, and guess what? This certain nurse manager was in receipt of the information officially exonerating my colleague the entire (further), 8 weeks my colleague went through hell. The key information exonerating my colleague only came to light when the certain nurse manager was on holiday. Now (as I type), I hear my colleague has been fully and officially cleared, and will be returning to work.

Qld Health hides its head in the sand . . .

Well, what developments are there since my last post? It's nearly six weeks since a certain nurse was suspended (though they're now temporarily allocated to a new work place, while still under investigation - but only in the last few days). And guess what? They still haven't had the original witness statement/s - and not a single member of management spoke to them first (to get their side of the story), BEFORE they were suspended and told (in writing), they're NOT entitled to "Natural Justice." Seems if you work for Q Health, anyone can (at any time), make a verbal complaint against you, and not be required to back up the allegation in writing. You know what I mean, something they're prepared to support with a date and a signature (and until there's evidence to the contrary, what else can anyone deduce after nearly six weeks of silence on this core issue from Q Health?). So come on Q Health, cough up. Do these written allegations even exist? And the allegation in question isn't trivial, it could even lead to criminal charges if proved. It's bizarre. So honestly speaking, I think Q Health should have handed this investigation to the Police from the word "Go." At least they would have had the professionalism (and expertise), to require written/signed witness statements from all parties within the first few hours. So how an earth can Q Health suspend an employee for nearly six weeks, on the basis of a criminal allegation (if proved), and NOT supply the hapless employee with original, signed and dated witness statement/s? Talk about the Keystone Cops, maybe Q Health dusted off some old film scripts to train their HR managers when the budget blew out . . . and if you happen to be the HR manager/s in question reading this, if the cap fits wear it - but I'm mentioning no names, and no places . . .

My first post to this blog . . .

Here's a "Letter to the Editor" I've just sent to 100's and 100's of local papers all over Queensland (135 words) . . .

"Work for Queensland Health? Been bullied? Afraid to speak out? Don't be, it's time to draw a line in the sand. Kramer and Sprenger were two 15th century Dominican monks who wrote an infamous book, the "Malleus Maleficarum," which described how to catch and punish witches. Just an historical oddity? Don't bet on it, I reckon Queensland Health has dusted it off, and is using it as a covert training manual for their managers. I speak as Registered Nurse, recently threatened with the "Code of Conduct" for voicing safety concerns. All employees of Queensland Health, from the wards person to the most senior doctor, must start to speak up and refuse to be isolated. The problem is systemic, not personal. It's a cancer that's costing lives, health and careers. Join me (and others), at qhealthspeakout.blogspot.com"

And at the time of writing, I personally know of two work colleagues who are suffering as a result of inadequate and distorted processes within Queensland Health. One was immediately suspended after management received a complaint about them. Problem was, not a single manager spoke to them first to get their side of the story - and as far as I know, over 5 weeks since the incident, they have still not received a single original witness statements. Another colleague was suspended (and remains so), on the basis of allegations that would never stand scrutiny in an open court of law.

Queensland Health gets round this by claiming "Suspension" is not a punishment, but an administrative process, and by allowing complaints against staff to be judged on the "Balance of Probabilities," rather than by any yardstick that would have a chance of survival in criminal proceedings. This is grossly unfair when a persons entire livelihood (and psychological/physical health), is at stake - and when the most low-level staff are being routinely landed with legal bills (from Queensland Health), adding up to tens of thousands of dollars. Even some criminal courts don't hand down such draconian penalties, yet at least in criminal proceedings, the accused is given the protection of an openly fair hearing. But if you work for Queensland Health, you can forget about meticulous standards of evidence, and meticulous proceedings. Quite honestly, it's a dog's breakfast.

What's the message in this? Speak up about anything, and we can ruin you? Stalin would have been proud. Queensland Health staff must have the same protection (against complaints), as those facing criminal charges - anything less compromises patient safety. Why? Because at present, staff can be unfairly targeted every time they raise legitmate concerns, and/or bullied on a whim. It's not good enough.