Canberra Health Service's CEO Bernadette McDonald contacted a committee undertaking an inquiry into maternity services and asked it to redact certain information in public submissions.
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She said she was concerned for the welfare of her staff who were potentially identifiable and denied attempting to influence the committee.
Ms McDonald asked for the redaction the week after Canberra Health Services sent out a statement fiercely denying claims a midwife made in a submission, labelling them misleading and unfair and criticising The Canberra Times' story about the submission.
The midwife's submission to a current Legislative Assembly inquiry into ACT's maternity services alleged vaginal examinations were at times performed without a woman's informed consent.
Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris was in March told by Canberra Hospital no patient complaint about the matter existed, only for one to be anonymously emailed to her at the weekend.
The Legislative Assembly committee determines what submissions, which are protected under privilege, should be made public and what information within them should be redacted.
A Canberra Health Services spokesman said Ms McDonald was not attempting to influence the committee but she had concern for what was made public and how it impacted on staff.
The spokesman said staff had raised concerns that some submissions made medical and midwifery staff potentially identifiable.
Ms McDonald wrote to the committee in March asking it to redact information in submissions to be published and one that had already been published.
"It has been brought to my attention that a Canberra Health Services staff member has been easily identified through a submission that has been published and we are requesting this information is redacted," she said.
"I am incredibly proud of the great work out maternity staff do each day and am disappointed that they are subjected to publication of unsubstantiated claims about their professional practice."
Ms Fitzharris came under pressure during question time on Wednesday about her involvement with the Canberra Health Services statement about the midwife's submissions and media coverage.
"Canberra Health Services wished to make the statement, I was aware of it but did not have a role in approving it," she said.
"All complaints are taken seriously."
She said she would make a full statement to the Assembly on a range of matters on the issue in May.
Ms Fitzharris said she previously told the Assembly that no consumer feedback had been received on the matter based on a verbal briefing with Canberra Health Services on March 13.
She was, however, made aware of an anonymous consumer complaint made in February via email on the weekend.
Ms Fitzharris said she would guarantee midwives who made complaints about the issue would not face retribution, under questioning from opposition spokeswoman for health Vicki Dunne during question time on Wednesday.
