A review of death reporting practices at Launceston General Hospital has uncovered 29 cases where deaths were not reported in accordance with the Coroners Act.
The independent review was launched following allegations by a registered nurse that the hospital’s former Executive Director of Medical Services failed to report a patient’s death in at least one case, possibly more.
The review identified 23 further deaths that should be referred to the coroner, adding to the six previously reported, after the examination of 65 additional cases.
It found that the former staff member “engaged in a repeated pattern of acting outside the scope” of the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages Act and “repeatedly inaccurately represented their standing to certify Medical Certificates of Cause of Death” in the relevant attestation.
The review panel said the former employee’s pattern of conduct raises the issue of “unsatisfactory professional conduct”.
“The panel considers this a serious and sustained departure from the expected standards of knowledge, skill and judgment,” the report reads.
“The panel wishes to place on record its concern for these families, who have already experienced significant grief and suffering at the loss of a loved one.”
Despite the findings, the review did not identify any systemic problems or widespread policy violations within the hospital.
Acting Health Secretary Dale Webster said the department has accepted the review panel’s recommendations, which focus on improving documentation, protocols and systems to strengthen death reporting across the organisation.
“The Department acknowledges the distress these findings may cause and we will actively engage with and support families through the open disclosure process,” he said.
“The Department will provide a dedicated contact for families affected.”
Any anomalies found by the panel will be reported to the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, with further information passed on to Tasmania Police, the Integrity Commission and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
