An application by Health Services Union (s.236 – Application for a majority support determination) will be determined by Fair Work Commissioner Cribb in Conference Room E & F – Level 6 in Melbourne.
August 6, 2018
The Health Services Union and Southern Cross Care (NSW & ACT) will contest a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) before Deputy President Kovacic in his ACT chambers today.
August 6, 2018
Jamie Vernon is retiring as Assistant Commissioner of NSW Ambulance Service.
August 6, 2018
The family of an Indian student allegedly murdered during an online date is calling for justice after it was revealed carers believe authorities should never have left the “extremely disturbed” accused woman unsupervised. Maulin Rathod, 25, was allegedly attacked by 18-year-old Jamie Dolheguy at her home in Ross Court, Sunbury, after the two arranged on a dating app to meet there on the evening of July 23. The Elsternwick man was critically injured and taken to Sunshine Hospital about 9pm, where he died overnight. Carers said Ms Dolheguy, had an acute psychiatric illness and was a danger to the public. Mr Rathod’s sister, who asked not to be named, said the family were stunned to learn his accused killer was living alone when authorities were aware she was high-risk.
August 6, 2018
A nursing home worker sedated two elderly women with severe dementia to make them sleep through the night, a court has heard. Farren John Wallace, 56, faced Townsville Magistrates Court, pleading guilty to two counts of unlawful drink spiking. The court heard that Wallace was an assistant in nursing (AIN) at the Eventide aged care facility in Charters Towers in February, 2015, when he slipped prescription medication Mersyndol into warm drinks and gave them to two women. Police prosecutor Darryn Casson said both incidents took place on the same night with Wallace sedating two women, aged 95 and 93, both with severe dementia. Mr Casson said both women often wandered the facility at night due to their dementia and Wallace gave them each a warm drink with the medication mixed into it. “The defendant at the time had made certain admissions to another AIN working at the ward at the time and said ‘she should fall asleep soon after she drinks that’,” he said. “The witness then queried what substance was placed in her drink and the defendant stated it was Mersyndol. “It was in a yellow capsule, he stated that he broke it open and tipped it in.” Mr Casson said in relation to the second woman, a witness saw Wallace place something in her drink. “At the time the defendant stated to the witness AIN, ‘I am sick of having a s*** night and I just want to have a quiet night’,” he said. “The defendant then stated to the witness, ‘this is between us, don’t say anything’.” Mr Casson said each woman fell asleep in their chair shortly after being drugged. The court heard one woman’s doctor said she was already on the maximum dosage of codeine, which is contained in Mersyndol, and any extra dosage would have placed her at risk of liver toxicity. Defence barrister Harvey Walters said Wallace was very apologetic for his actions and had lost his career. “He has worked at the nursing home on and off for 20 years … he’ll never work there again,” he said. Magistrate Ross Mack said the offence was committed to make Wallace’s night easier, without an consideration to the effects of the drug aside from sedation. “Ladies such as the two victims are placed in hospitals such as Eventide so they can be safe and cared for in their twilight years. “Families entrust their elderly family members to these institutions to be cared for in a dignified way. “That trust was in this case breached in the most selfish way and you stand condemned for that breach of trust and your cavalier attitude to the possible effects the drug may have had on the victims.” Wallace was sentenced to six months imprisonment, fully suspended.
August 6, 2018
A Royal Darwin Hospital gynaecologist allegedly made “suggestive” comments to a patient after he had medically examined her vagina, and later phoned her to ask her out to dinner. Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal records, show Dr Bhupendra Nath Khara admits he told his patient, among other things, that she was “petite and pretty” during a consultation in 2016. Dr Khara’s lawyers have asked the tribunal to rule that his unprofessional conduct was “at the lower end of the scale” and that he should be dealt with by an “appropriately worded reprimand”. The tribunal records also show the foreign-trained doctor admits to telling the patient that he “liked sex but that he is not interested in a relationship”. Dr Khara, who is now based in Victoria, admits he failed to “maintain professional boundaries”, but is set to argue at NTCAT his comments were not “suggestive” or “irrelevant” to the consultation and “must be considered in context”. Dr Khara denies the Medical Board of Australia’s allegation he breached code of conduct rules dealing with sexual boundaries.
August 6, 2018
A palliative care nurse who robbed dying patients and used their credit cards to buy clothes, junk food and Viagra has pleaded guilty to a total of 22 charges, including theft and deception. Naol Benti, 27, was working as a registered nurse at Mercy Place – a residential aged care facility in Parkville, central Melbourne – when he started stealing from his elderly victims in December 2017. The father-of-two racked up hundreds of dollars worth of bills on such frivolous purchases as ice cream, pizza, kitchen appliances and a diamante watch. The father-of-two racked up hundreds of dollars worth of bills on such frivolous purchases as ice cream, pizza, kitchen appliances and a diamante watch Benti’s first shopping spree alone came in at more than $500. ‘I think that’s probably as low as you get,’ said Anne, the daughter of 91-year-old Mary whose cash and cards were missing from her wallet on the day she passed away. ‘You don’t get much worse than that… How could someone do this?’ Another patient reportedly awoke to find Benti holding his $1400 watch, with the nurse claiming he was going to take it to get the battery replaced. Benti was ultimately arrested and charged in early August. The accused’s lawyer told the court his client was remorseful and embarrassed, and further noted that Benti’s wife was pregnant and mentally ill in the time leading up to his crimes. For now, Benti remains employed in aged care. A verdict on the case will be announced today.
August 6, 2018
Police want help in finding a teenaged sex attacker after two women were assaulted in the Waikato Hospital staff car park. The first assault happened about 4pm on Friday, the second shortly after. Burgess was unsure if the victims were hospital staff. The offender is described as 16 and white.
