A doctor who missed red flags in diagnosing her patient’s oesophegeal cancer has been fined more than $20,000. The Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal found “Dr H” had failed to refer her patient to a specialist or for an endoscopy on four separate occasions despite him presenting cancer symptoms. The tribunal said this amounted professional misconduct and censured the doctor, a female general practitioner who has permanent name suppression, ordering her to pay 30 per cent of the tribunal costs amounting to $21,636. Dr H has appealed the tribunal’s decision to the High Court.
March 6, 2018
Disability Rights Advocacy Service Incorporated is defending a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) before Fair Work Commissioner Platt in his Adelaide chambers (Carroll).
March 5, 2018
A retirement village has been hit by thieves looking for a “soft target”, leading police to warn the public about the importance of locking screen doors. At least nine homes were targeted by criminals on Saturday night in Carlyle Gardens Townsville, a lifestyle resort in Condon. District Duty Officer Robert Dusha said police were aware of at least nine attempted break and enters in the village.
March 5, 2018
Paramedics across the state are giving ambulance patients free rides in protest over the NSW government’s order they pay for their own Working With Children checks. Australian Paramedics Association NSW secretary Steve Pearce says the ban is a protest against the $80 fee, not the check itself. As of 9pm on Wednesday paramedics stopped collecting billing information from patients transported in ambulances. “As emergency services first-responders we are not prepared to pay for something that should be covered by employers,” Mr Pearce said. “Paramedics are really angry, they’re not going to cop this.” He said 16,000 NSW Police and NSW Fire & Rescue staff had already been granted an exemption from the $80 fee. Paramedics are required to have their Working With Children checks by the end of the month, but Mr Pearce said he expects up to 60 per cent of officers to refuse.
March 5, 2018
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery and Eastern Health have a s.739 (Application to deal with a dispute) on foot before Commissioner Cribb in Conference Room E and Conference Room F – Level 6 in Melbourne at 10am.
March 5, 2018
An application by Victorian Hospitals’ Industrial Association (Sch. 6A, Item 5 – Application to terminate a State reference public sector transitional award) will also be heard by Fair Work.
March 5, 2018
An application by Health Services Union (Sch. 6A, Item 4 – Application to make a State reference public sector modern award) will be determined by Fair Work Commissioner Lee in Court 3 – Level 6 in Melbourne at 10am.
March 5, 2018
Under-siege former minister Leesa Vlahos went to ground on Thursday, refusing to answer questions about her handling of the Oakden crisis or address damning criticism of her evidence to an ICAC inquiry into the now-closed nursing home. Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander QC this week heavily criticised Ms Vlahos, who was formerly responsible for the state-run aged care home, labelling her “sullen, belligerent and aggressive” when giving evidence. A day after Mr Lander ruled the former Mental Health Minister had blamed others for failings and took more credit than she deserved for key decisions, Ms Vlahos called police to evict the media.
