“Fake patients” investigation complete

A Health Department investigation has confirmed Colac Area Health staff presented as “fake patients” during a ministerial visit in August last year.

The investigator found that although the matter was serious, there was no impact to patient care and the health service would be left to decide if disciplinary action was taken against the staff involved.

A statement released yesterday said a “small group” of staff posed as patients – despite not needing medical care – to make the hospital’s Urgent Care look busy during a visit from Health Minister Mary Anne Thomas in August 2023.

The independent investigation came after the Colac Herald broke the story in January that a group of 10 staff and relatives of staff had participated in the ruse, which also involved an ambulance admission, with a paramedic allegedly using an ambulance to bring in a fake patient just before the Minister’s arrival.

The investigation found that: “while there was no impact to patient care, there could have been, and that the incident was inappropriate and does not align with our expectations under the Health Services Act or the Victorian Public Sector (VPS) Code of Conduct”.

The department backed the investigator’s recommendations for Colac Area Health, which focused on making sure staff were made aware of the seriousness of the incident – including that it had the potential to impact patient care – and that there was a safe “speak-up” culture with clear ways for staff to raise concerns.

“(Colac Area Health) will also review the evidence and determine any next steps for those involved in organising the incident, which may include further counselling, training or disciplinary action,” the Health Department said.

“Individual action has not been recommended by the investigators for those who posed as patients.

“However, all staff will be counselled on the seriousness of the matter and reminded of how they can speak up and of their responsibilities under their workplace agreements and the VPS Code of Conduct.

“Colac Area Health has accepted the recommendations, including to continue a cultural review to ensure they are fostering a safe ‘speak up’ culture, and will report back to the department later this year on its progress.

“The investigation also found that at least one ambulance had attended the Urgent Care Centre with a patient who did not require medical treatment during the event, and Ambulance Victoria is dealing with this matter through its own internal processes.”

Colac Area Health apologised for the incident in a statement yesterday.

The health service said while it could not discuss individual staffing matters, it would review the evidence and consider the next steps for staff involved.

The story came to light after hospital documents showed staff and relatives had presented to Urgent Care in the lead-up to the visit, some reporting made-up symptoms, with all admissions cancelled after the event finished.

In the days after, Ms Thomas said she was unaware the patients had not been legitimate but did recall the Urgent Care as being busy that day, and indicated health authorities would investigate the incident.

Colac Area Health chief Fiona Brew had been supposed to start a six-month interim role at Portland that week, but instead took leave in Colac while the investigation was underway.

Colac Area Health board chair Time Greene indicated he would stay on at the helm during the investigation, but stood down from the position a week later while remaining on the board.

Colac Area Health’s Urgent Care receives more than 10,000 presentations a year despite only being equipped for a maximum of 6500.

See tomorrow’s Colac Herald for the full story.