Sydney [Australia], May 1: Victoria State Health Authority leader Mary-Anne Thomas today announced the results of the agency's investigation into the incident at the urgent care clinic of Colac Area Health hospital on August 9, 2023, according to The newspaper . Guardian .
"We confirm that Colac Area Health medical staff posed as patients during my visit that day," she said.
Ms Thomas said such deception was orchestrated to make Colac Area Health appear busier.
Ms Thomas emphasized it was up to Colac Area Health to take action against the staff involved, which could include "counseling, training or discipline".
Colac Area Health's interim chief executive, Professor Steve Moylan, has apologized for the incident.
"We are sorry for what happened at the urgent care center, it is regrettable and we have accepted all recommendations from the independent investigation. Although the investigation found there was no impact on patient care, but we know the incident is potentially dangerous and ensure the incident will not happen again," Mr. Moylan emphasized.
Colac Area Health will consider disciplinary action against the group of employees identified in the investigation. Among those employees was a person pretending to be a patient who was transported to the hospital by ambulance.
Ambulance Victoria, which provides pre-hospital emergency services in the state of Victoria, is also investigating its involvement in the incident, according to The Guardian .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
