An inquest into the death of teenager Ahlia Raftery in a Newcastle mental health unit in March 2015 has led to recommendations to improve patient care and help prevent future tragedies. Ms Raftery had only just turned 18 when she took her own life in the Mater Mental Health Centre’s intensive care unit during a deep depressive episode. The coronial inquest into her death has identified a number of specific shortcomings in Ms Raftery’s care and “areas which suggest that there is scope for improvement in general mental health care”. Deputy state coroner Derek Lee has made seven recommendations to the Hunter New England Health District to improve policies, nurse training, record keeping and communication between staff.
June 13, 2017
A s.394 (unfair dismissal) application by Mandy Morrow against MedHealth Pty Limited T/A MedHealth is being kept alive by Commissioner Platt. “I am satisfied that Ms Morrow has completed the required minimum employment period and therefore is a person protected from unfair dismissal under s.382 of the Act, ” he said. The application will be referred to an alternative member of the Commission for consideration of the merits.
June 13, 2017
Uniting Care Wesley Adelaide Inc will argue a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Commissioner Platt in his Adelaide chambers (Marlow).
June 13, 2017
An aged-care home billing itself as “warm and welcoming” breached clinical standards when audited in a surprise government inspection. The 72-bed Ozanam Apartments facility in the ACT suburb of Garran cares for a large number of high-needs residents as well as those with dementia. The Australian Aged Care Quality Agency found the home, operated by Southern Cross Care, failed standards related to clinical management, behavioural management and skin care. Helen Emmerson, the head of care services at Southern Cross Care, said these issues had been fixed immediately and the residence was now up to scratch.
June 13, 2017
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation South Australian Branch for its Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation South Australian Branch Employees Agreement 2017 has been granted by Commissioner Wilson in Melbourne on 8 June 2017.
June 13, 2017
The total cost of executive-level staff pay packets at ACT Health is expected to reach $8.1 million this year, up about 50 per cent during the past four years. While the rise in the total cost of Canberra’s public health executives was due to increasing executive numbers, it also comes as increasing numbers of the senior staff have headed for the door in recent years.
June 13, 2017
National Prescribing Service is facing a s.372 (Application to deal with other contravention disputes) lodged by a staff member (McAllan).
June 13, 2017
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Central Anaesthetic Group Services Trust T/A Central Anaesthetic Group for its Central Anaesthetic Group Enterprise Agreement 2017 has been approved.
