A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application from Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association for its Banyule Community Health (General Dentists’) Enterprise Agreement 2018-2022 has been ratified by Fair Work Deputy President Masson, in Melbourne, on 24 June 2019.
June 26, 2019
Wellington family doctor Deane Drew will be struck off the register after entering sexual relationships with four women patients while prescribing them addictive and psychoactive drugs. The Health Practitioner’s Disciplinary Tribunal announced its finding of professional misconduct and decision to cancel Drew’s registration in a hearing in Wellington on Tuesday. He can apply to re-register as a doctor at any time, at which time he would be required to undertake a sexual misconduct assessment test. If accepted back into the profession, he would have to comply with all Medical Council requirements for three years, including the requirement to have a chaperone and the oversight of prescribing practice. Further employers would have to be told of the registration cancellation for three years. On behalf of the tribunal, chair Alison Douglass acknowledged Drew’s acceptance of the charges, his appearance at the hearing and apology. The finding of professional misconduct related to “both sexual misconduct, and in the prescribing of psychotropic medications to four complainants whom you knew were particularly vulnerable over an extended period of time,” Douglass said. Drew was fined $3000 and ordered to pay 35 per cent of total costs of the investigation and tribunal. Drew earlier admitted entering inappropriate sexual relationships with vulnerable women while they were his patients and he was prescribing them addictive drugs. All had mental health issues. Drew told one victim he “wondered if [they] would be lovers” during one consultation, giving her gifts of money, flowers and lingerie and taking her out for meals. Near the end of a sexual relationship with another victim, he texted her: “Please don’t lay a complaint as it could ruin my life and that would be pretty harsh for abusing your trust and treating you badly.” Drew asked another victim to go for a dive and a walk with him, spending time on his boat in the Marlborough Sounds. Sexual contact also happened during surgical consultations. Counsel Harry Waalkens told the Health Practitioners Medical Tribunal Drew deserved credit for appearing at the hearing and for being responsible enough for admitting guilt at an early stage. Most medical practitioners, facing such an “immense falling from grace,” would not show themselves at a tribunal, he said. Drew accepted a finding of professional misconduct should be made, with censure and cancelled registration. His lawyer argued he should not pay more than 25 per cent of the tribunal’s costs. Drew had not been working as a doctor for two and a half years, and was now living off life savings, Waalkens said.
June 26, 2019
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Wolper Jewish Hospital for its Wolper Jewish Hospital, NSWNMA and ANMF Branch Enterprise Agreement 2019-2021 has been ratified by Fair Work Deputy President Masson, in Melbourne, on 25 June 2019.
June 25, 2019
A s.318 (Application for an order relating to instruments covering new employer and transferring employees) from Anglican Community Services T/A Anglicare from its Mission Australia Service Delivery Enterprise Agreement 2016-2019 (Social, community, home care and disability services) has been affirmed by Fair Work Commissioner Johns sitting in Sydney, on 21 June 2019.
June 25, 2019
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Sacred Heart Mission St Kilda Inc T/A Sacred Heart Mission for its Sacred Heart Mission Nurses Agreement 2019 has been granted by Fair Work Deputy President Masson, in Melbourne, on 21 June 2019.
June 25, 2019
A s.394 (unfair dismissal) application by Anastasia Patouhas against the A.C.E Child Care Centre has been rejected by Fair Work Deputy President Clancy, in Melbourne, on 21 June 2019.
June 25, 2019
A s.185 (Enterprise agreement) application by Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association for the Banyule Community Health (General Dentists’) Enterprise Agreement 2018-2022 has been ratified by Fair Work Deputy President Masson, in Melbourne, on 24 June 2019.
June 25, 2019
A female security guard is off work and recovering after an assault at Waikato Hospital which has left her with a suspected broken nose. The assault happened on Tuesday, when the guard was called to help with a highly agitated patient who was trying to leave the hospital. The patient lashed out, giving our member a closed-fist punch to the nose. It follows the assault on another female guard last month, which has left her with multiple facial fractures and off work for at least three months. Allied Security is the security contractor for the Waikato District Health Board, and also the Canterbury DHB, where there have been four serious assaults on guards since Christmas. E tū organiser, Iriaka Rauhihi says the union is appalled by the second serious assault in just over a month at the hospital. “What are they waiting for – a fatality? “Assaults are frequent at this DHB and we’re well aware of Allied Security’s record in Christchurch as well. Our members feel unsafe and I’m not the only one worried that someone will die if things don’t improve – our members are saying the same thing,” she says. E tū Campaign Lead, Mat Danaher says the string of assaults has raised serious alarm bells. “We are now looking at a record of failure to stem the on-going violence on hospital wards in Waikato and Christchurch,” says Mat. He says DHBs are due to meet shortly with E tū to review hospital security – a move that’s long over-due. “Violence on our hospital wards is a serious issue, affecting all staff. The nurses complain wards are unsafe and both they and our security members are frequently in the firing line. “There are systemic failures including under-staffing, lack of training and poor health and safety processes. We are looking forward to the upcoming security review and welcome the fact that DHBs nationally are taking this issue seriously.”
