Health Professionals Must Keep Reporting

Health professionals must not shy away from reporting serious adverse events, despite the work pressure from funding cuts and a climate of fear in the sector, Labour’s Health spokesperson Annette King says.

“I urge doctors and nurses to continue to report serious incidents. Transparency and honesty are essential to constantly improving our health service. We currently have widespread reporting and that’s an excellent part of the system.

“However I am worried that a climate of fear is developing in the system. Health professionals are under huge pressure due to inadequate funding. Some may fear retribution if they report their mistakes.

“We cannot risk that happening.

“Figures released by the Health Quality and Safety Commission showed that 489 serious adverse events in hospitals were reported, an increase of 21 per cent.

“Many of those events come from preventable mistakes. They should be learned from. We cannot afford a drop in reporting due to the climate of fear in the sector that Tony Ryall has fostered.

“It is well known that Tony Ryall personally calls staff to berate them on issues he is not happy about. That puts fear into the system and could put health professionals off reporting mistakes,” says Annette King.

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