Ms WALKER - 2010-02-25
A person has been taken into custody in Alice Springs. It is alleged the person has been impersonating a medical practitioner. Can you inform the House about this matter?
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Department of Health and Families has advised me a person has been found to be working at the Alice Springs Hospital as a medical intern without the proper qualification. Senior staff reported the alleged employment fraud to the Northern Territory Police yesterday, and that person has been taken into custody yesterday.
I am advised the person had provided falsified documents from the University of Adelaide relating to a 2008 medical qualification and his experience to the Northern Territory Medical Board. These documents had been certified by a South Australian Justice of the Peace. The Medical Board had granted him conditional registration in May 2009 to practice under supervision. Alice Springs Hospital senior medical staff have provided close supervision of his practice over the period of his employment.
Following developing concerns about his performance, further verification of his qualification from the University of Adelaide was sought by the Alice Springs Hospital. The university confirmed yesterday that the qualifications were not authentic. The medical board has suspended his registration today.
As a junior doctor, the person’s contact with patients was limited. He was working under the supervision of more experienced doctors at all times, including for the prescription of medication. This person has not performed any surgery.
Quality care and patient safety are critical in our health system, and we take any risk to this very seriously. Thus, Alice Springs Hospital is currently reviewing the files of all patients with whom he may have been involved.
The Northern Territory Medical Board is an independent statutory body that registers medical practitioners to work in the Northern Territory as meeting the required level of training in their profession. The board is also responsible for managing complaints about medical practitioners’ performance.
Australian medical graduates are required to provide certified copies of their qualification. References are also checked for registration. The board always seeks further information about an applicant if there is any blemish on their application documents or reference checks.
No concerns were identified during the registration process. No former complaints about this person’s practice have been received by the board. I am advised that in offering employment to this person, Alice Springs Hospital checked his curriculum vitae, references, qualification and Medical Board registration, and no irregularities were found at the time.
Madam Speaker, I will be asking the Medical Board to provide me information about the process, and also to give me an assurance that no other case like this will occur in the Territory.
ANSWER
Madam Speaker, the Department of Health and Families has advised me a person has been found to be working at the Alice Springs Hospital as a medical intern without the proper qualification. Senior staff reported the alleged employment fraud to the Northern Territory Police yesterday, and that person has been taken into custody yesterday.
I am advised the person had provided falsified documents from the University of Adelaide relating to a 2008 medical qualification and his experience to the Northern Territory Medical Board. These documents had been certified by a South Australian Justice of the Peace. The Medical Board had granted him conditional registration in May 2009 to practice under supervision. Alice Springs Hospital senior medical staff have provided close supervision of his practice over the period of his employment.
Following developing concerns about his performance, further verification of his qualification from the University of Adelaide was sought by the Alice Springs Hospital. The university confirmed yesterday that the qualifications were not authentic. The medical board has suspended his registration today.
As a junior doctor, the person’s contact with patients was limited. He was working under the supervision of more experienced doctors at all times, including for the prescription of medication. This person has not performed any surgery.
Quality care and patient safety are critical in our health system, and we take any risk to this very seriously. Thus, Alice Springs Hospital is currently reviewing the files of all patients with whom he may have been involved.
The Northern Territory Medical Board is an independent statutory body that registers medical practitioners to work in the Northern Territory as meeting the required level of training in their profession. The board is also responsible for managing complaints about medical practitioners’ performance.
Australian medical graduates are required to provide certified copies of their qualification. References are also checked for registration. The board always seeks further information about an applicant if there is any blemish on their application documents or reference checks.
No concerns were identified during the registration process. No former complaints about this person’s practice have been received by the board. I am advised that in offering employment to this person, Alice Springs Hospital checked his curriculum vitae, references, qualification and Medical Board registration, and no irregularities were found at the time.
Madam Speaker, I will be asking the Medical Board to provide me information about the process, and also to give me an assurance that no other case like this will occur in the Territory.
Last updated: 09 Aug 2016