Doctor awaits inquiry outcome

The whistleblower doctor demoted for exposing Shellharbour Hospital's figure-fudging scandal remains in career limbo more than two weeks after a special commission of inquiry found he was wronged by NSW Health staff for speaking out. Area Health chief executive Terry Clout could not tell the Mercury what position the hospital's former Medical Director of Emergency, Dr Simon Leslie, had held since his April submission to Peter Garling's inquiry into the NSW health system.Mr Clout also has yet to act on findings of "bullying and unacceptable behaviour" in last month's inquiry report, stressing the importance of "natural justice"."The officers named in the report will be given the opportunity to respond to those findings," he said. "It would be both inappropriate and unfair to those concerned ... if I were to pre-empt any outcome."Among those expected to respond is Southern Network general manager Sue Browbank, found in the report to have lied, fudged figures, bullied and directed staff into acts they considered unethical and who concealed the need for resources at one of the hospitals under her watch.Mr Garling found Ms Browbank instructed staff at Shellharbour Hospital to establish a fictitious ward and manipulate electronic records with the "predominant purpose" of improving performance figures for access block."Ms Browbank knew that there would be no change in the way patients admitted to the virtual ward would be medically treated and that it was a 'paper exercise'," he said. "Later efforts by Ms Browbank to attribute a legitimate clinical reason for the establishment of the 'virtual ward', including her evidence to this inquiry, were disingenuous." On Dr Leslie's submission that he was stripped of his director's position after he exposed the "virtual ward" Mr Garling rejected Ms Browbank's evidence his job didn't exist and cited her "ad hominem attack" on the doctor after he raised concerns.NSW Nurses' Association councillor Angela Pridham said the union had long warned area health's upper executive that bullying was a problem within the organisation and the Garling report provided impetus for action."This needs to be taken seriously and not swept under the carpet as has previously happened."Ms Pridham said there was a perception within the health service that staff in elevated positions were "untouchable", particularly if they continued to meet targets.A source within the southern network explained: "If a manager does not meet their budget or their key performance indicator and they complain about it, that's a career-limiting move, so they therefore have to send good news to the people above them so they don't get in (trouble)." Dr Leslie said he was eager for Mr Clout to resolve the matter and clarify his employment."It's been an extremely stressful process and I'm disappointed that it's now being drawn out over Christmas," he said.