A staff member accused of sending an anonymous letter detailing serious concerns about Canberra Hospital’s maternity services was investigated for breaching the public service code, internal documents reveal.
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The letter, received by the government on April 15, claimed mothers and babies' lives were being put at risk by chronic overcrowding and mismanagement at Centenary Hospital for Women and Children.
The staff member alleged to have sent the letter was asked to attend a meeting with Human Resources, the nursing union and executive director of the women and children's hospital Elizabeth Chatham days after the anonymous letter was sent.
Documents released under freedom of information laws revealed while ACT Health developed a media plan to show it was taking the concerns seriously and supported staff, it was also considering whether any codes had been breached by the letter.
Ms Chatham sought the support of Human Resources for a scheduled meeting with the accused staff member, which was later cancelled or postponed due to the staff member taking personal leave.
"Can you refer me to the public service code or act that may have been breached?" Ms Chatham asked an ACT Health HR representative.
Internal emails reveal a number of drafts of media responses were created after the department received the anonymous letter.
The agreed media approach was to "acknowledge there are challenges that management are working through in the context of high demand for the hospital's services".
One staff member said their main concern was to portray they "take it seriously, we are doing things to address the issues".
The media plan also included holding preemptive meetings with all clinical staff.
In one of the meetings Ms Chatham asked for a show of hands in regards to workplace bullying, minutes show.
A staff member commented that the question was not suited to the forum and staff would be too scared to raise their hands.
Ms Chathan also expressed surprise staff were reluctant to come forward, claiming no one’s job had ever been affected by lodging concerns or complaints.
Among the internal documents, staff also drafted responses to a number of allegations made by the staff in the letter.
ACT Health denied a storage room has been used to deliver babies since 2016 when management ordered a directive for it not to be used.
But an email states the persistently full birthing rooms have resulted in it being used for obstetric emergencies and traumatic situations.
These emergencies included a placental abruption, and fetal death in utero diagnosis, a premature birth with postpartum haemorrhage and a birth at 24 weeks.
