Page 5920 - Week 14 - Wednesday, 8 December 2010
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My recollections of the end of those discussions, including with Dr Andrew Foote, are that there was agreement around a safe, secure process. I talked at length with them around the public interest disclosure process. Indeed, Dr Foote told me that, unless there were protections in place, people would not come forward. That sounds like it is a little different to the information that has been provided to Mr Hanson, but that was the information provided to me by Dr Foote and other doctors whom I met with over the course of this discussion.
The public interest disclosure process was as a result of advice from the Government Solicitor and feedback from others who wanted to participate in the review. It was not something I chose, Mr Hanson, because I have no role in this. At that time it was agreed across a broad range of people that that was the best way forward.
Mr Hanson: You’re the minister. You decide what action is taken.
MS GALLAGHER: I commissioned the clinical review. Mr Hanson claims he is interested in the systemic issues facing the obstetrics and gynaecology unit rather than a witch-hunt against particular individuals. Whilst he accuses me of witch-hunts, what he is after by asking for the release of the public interest disclosure—which was essentially a fact-finding mission of establishing what has occurred over four years—is to identify individuals and—
Mr Hanson: No.
MS GALLAGHER: That is exactly what you are after.
Mr Hanson: We do not need individuals.
MS GALLAGHER: That is exactly what you are after, Mr Hanson, and you know it. You have got to stand up and say that is what you are after, because—
Mr Hanson: That is not what I am saying.
MS GALLAGHER: The clinical services review identified systemic issues in the O&G department. That review is completely public. The recommendations are public. We are dealing with the review. That gives you an idea of those issues that you, as shadow minister for health, should be interested in. But, no, you are not happy to stop
there. You want to get involved and find out who did what to whom, when, how and what is the punishment for that?
Mr Smyth: No, we want to fix the problem.
Ms Gallagher: That is exactly what you are after. Just be honest about it, because if it is not about that, what is it about? Is it about finding what the systemic issues are? I have released all that information, Mr Hanson.
Mr Hanson: No, you haven’t; not about bullying.
MS GALLAGHER: That information is public.
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