A prominent government lawyer has been called in to examine serious industrial relations issues within one of Canberra's busiest hospital departments, following revelations of significant tensions among cardiology staff.
Legal Review Amidst Staff Conflict
Canberra Health Services executive Janet Zagari confirmed on Tuesday that ACT's Principal Solicitor and Counsel Russell Bayliss had been formally engaged to address workplace concerns within the public hospital's cardiology unit. The confirmation came during a public hearing committee where Ms Zagari disclosed that Mr Bayliss had "undertaken a piece of work for us in relation to some industrial matters."
The situation involves multiple cardiologists who were reportedly placed on paid leave while Mr Bayliss conducted his review. The investigation examined serious allegations including patient safety risks, bullying, favouritism and professional misconduct within the department, though health authorities have been cautious about disclosing specific details.
Government Maintains Confidentiality
ACT Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith has explicitly denied the existence of a formal report from the review and expressed concern that revealing outcomes could prove damaging for staff members. "Previously reviews into employment matters, and concerns in the culture of a particular area, have been reported and have been subject to freedom of information that has been quite damaging for the staff in those particular areas," Ms Stephen-Smith stated.
The Health Minister acknowledged that "it's no secret" that "there is some instability within cardiology, generally" while noting that progress had been made in reorganizing departmental operations. She described "tensions within cardiology" but praised staff for engaging in "really productive conversations" with Canberra Health Services leadership to resolve these issues.
Ongoing Structural Changes and Recruitment
According to Ms Zagari, an interim leadership team is currently managing the cardiology department while longer-term structural solutions are developed. "We work towards what is the right leadership structure and the right structure for cardiology in the longer term," she explained during the hearing.
The department continues to face staffing challenges, with Chief Operating Officer Katie McKenzie unable to provide exact vacancy numbers due to ongoing recruitment processes. "We did have a small amount of vacancy, that I'm anticipating will be all but filled with the recruitment," Ms McKenzie stated, indicating that suitable candidates were being allocated to positions.
This is not the first time the cardiology department has faced serious workplace issues. In April 2022, four senior cardiologists were stood down following bullying and harassment allegations, with one subsequently reinstated after taking Canberra Health Services to the Federal Court. Health authorities have confirmed that the current allegations do not involve any of these previously investigated doctors.
