A BOMBSHELL leaked internal report from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has exposed a “culture of blame” and “fear” in Queensland Health, under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

The secret government document reveals entrenched, systemic workplace issues at the Cairns Hospital Mental Health Unit, amid a culture of “very high levels of workplace bullying and violence” where “unqualified” staff are forced to perform tasks they have not been trained to do.

Other shocking revelations exposed in the document include:

• Staff fear being blacklisted for promotion or stood down as retribution for speaking out about concerns.
• Unions are controlling operational decisions and bullying staff.
• The Hospital has high levels of workplace bullying and work-related violence.
• Unqualified staff are being recruited into roles.
• The hospital is protecting people who behave badly.
• Managers are paralysed by a fear of complaints.

Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli said the leaked document uncovered a systemic and entrenched culture of blame inside Queensland Health, under the Palaszczuk Labor Government.

“Doctors, nurses and allied health professional should be empowered and valued in their roles, not subjected to the systemic workplace bullying they have been under the Palaszczuk Labor Government,” Mr Crisafulli said.

“This secret workplace culture report paints a bleak picture of a rotten culture, and it’s clear patients and hospital staff are now paying the price for the chaos and crisis of the Palaszczuk Government.

“We need to heal our health system with more beds, better triaging, releasing data in real time and putting doctors and nurses back in charge to improve patient care.”

Shadow Minister for Health Ros Bates said Queensland Health’s culture was set at the top, by the Minister.

“When a government is in chaos and crisis, it’s no surprise our health and hospital system is in crisis,” Ms Bates said.

“Has patient care been compromised by “unqualified” staff forced to perform tasks they have not been trained to do?

“The Health Minister has serious questions to answer about what’s going on inside Queensland Health.

“Minister D’Ath likes to blame anyone and everyone else for the problems inside her health system but it’s clear that the culture of blame has come from the top.”

Quotes from the Project Insight – Insights into Workplace Culture, Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service Report:

• “Respondents reported fear of speaking out for fear of retribution, such as being labelled a ‘troublemaker’ and blacklisted, followed by retribution such as being moved sideways, not being considered for promotion, stood down without awareness of wrongdoing or not being given a favourable roster or resources” (Page 21)
• “Managers feel too scared to move on issues for fear of a complaint against them” (Page 23)
• “Unions are too involved in operational decision-making” (Page 23)
• “Perception, the organisation, protects people who are behaving inappropriately” (Page 23)
• “The results from the People at Work survey identified very high levels of Workplace Bullying and Work-related Violence, and they appear to be significant contributors to the poor workplace culture within CHHHS MHATODS.” (Page 26)
• “Recruitment of unqualified staff” (Page 29)
• “Staff are asked to do tasks they are not trained/delegated to do” (Page 33)
• “Respondents reported degrees of ‘blaming others’. They feel there was very little self-responsibility for the role individuals play in the health of the culture.” (Page 40)
• “Managers at various levels reported feeling fearful of the Unions and unable to deal with inappropriate staff behaviour for fear of having a complaint made against them.” (Page 40)