Poor treatment for Qld Health Nurses Australia

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I'm sure we have seen some disturbing information come out recently regarding the treatment of nurses working for Qld Health, Australia. Well I am such a nurse and I have yet another story to share. While on duty I was supplied with food which caused an anaphalaxys, I was inappropreately treated, infact I was given medication (Adrenalin) IV which should have been IM or SC, this cause huge reaction, other meds administered to reduce affects which caused one on one nursing all night to maintain BP above 90/50. I remained in my small remote rural hospital with no offer to move me to larger facility for further treatment. Subsequently I had to take off 10 days from work, no support from Q Health or management. Infact they are all running for cover or covering bums.... I am still experiencing some adverse effects but that doesn't seem to matter to those in power. I am now wondering what I should now do... if I consider legal action that will prob. mean the end of my career with Q Health.... have decided to leave hospital involved as have some other staff. This is not the only issue here but it is a shocking example of just how staff are valued or not as the case may be......

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Specializes in ob/gyn med /surg.

do you have a workman's compensation that you report on the job incidents to? i think they are treating you horribly and maybe you should get a lawyer.. did you fill out an incident report to cover yourself?

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Specializes in Tele, Infectious Disease, OHN.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. What is Qld Health?

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Qld Health is the state run public hospital system in Queensland Australia

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Yes we have workers compensation, unfortunately the Dr who made the error was the only Dr in the district and would not issue a workers compensation medical certificate, without this you cannot make a claim. Qld Health has also advised that the moment I became ill at work I was no longer on duty and had become a patient therefore I was not entitled to any compensation. Their view is that medication errors happen to other patients and Qld Health does not cover those patients sick leave. I am still considering legal options however I'm concerned that should I follow that route I won't get work here in Qld again.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.
Yes we have workers compensation, unfortunately the Dr who made the error was the only Dr in the district and would not issue a workers compensation medical certificate, without this you cannot make a claim. Qld Health has also advised that the moment I became ill at work I was no longer on duty and had become a patient therefore I was not entitled to any compensation. Their view is that medication errors happen to other patients and Qld Health does not cover those patients sick leave. I am still considering legal options however I'm concerned that should I follow that route I won't get work here in Qld again.

Uhm, I suspect Queensland Health is running for cover. I do not see that becoming ill at work means you become a patient and therefore are not covered by Workers Comp. Thats a copout...

Have you rung the Work Health and Safety dept in Queensland? Check the site below for contacts.

http://www.deir.qld.gov.au/corporate/contactus/index.htm

Have you tried the Queensland ANF branch? Surely there are legal officers in their ranks that can give you some advice...

Are you able to access your file through the Freedom of Information Act? I'd look into this, because there would be records there, that cannot be disputed. And based on this you may be able to use the information for another doctor to assess you. Of course this means you may need to seek help outside of your town...

You also contact your local member of parliament. It would be particularly helpful if they were Coalition, because I bet they would really push an issue like this with the government.

The last thing that comes to mind is to seek help from an Ombudsman, but I think they take forever don't they?

Hope this helps...

You deserve a break...

Jay

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

Jay has made some good suggestions.

Don't take this lying down. Stand firm and search high and low for the outcome you rightly deserve.

We have a saying here in the south,..... "Not Queensland, again!"

Wishing you good health and a successful outcome.

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Apollo22, just wondering if some of the avenues I suggested, or that someone else may suggest, are helping at all?

Jay

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Specializes in Operating Room Nursing.

Apollo-Sorry to hear about your horrible experience. If you are a union member i would suggest you get the ANF involved. I would also be writing letters to the DON of whatever health care facility this happened in and outline what you have experienced, how this has affected you.

If i was treated like this i personally wouldn't worry about my career ending with QLD health. Why would you want to work for an organisation that has treated you like this? There is plenty of work out there for nurses.

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