Unions and PDP Call For Official Healthcare Probe Allegations of sexual abuse surface again at Giraldi Home hearing
In a black week for the Government, the GHA and the Social Services Agency came under further heavy attack as both the TGWU/ACTS and the PDP joined calls for an in-depth inquiry into alleged shortcomings in Gibraltar's healthcare systems. The pressures on the Government - and particularly on newly-appointed Health Minister Yvette del Agua - were compounded by a damning report from a panel of the British General Medical Council (GMC) on the death of a patient at St Bernard's Hospital, and by further revelations of alleged sexual misconduct and abuse at the Giraldi Home while del Agua was the Minister responsible for Social Services. Calling for a Government investigation of - and response to - allegations of events at the Giraldi Home the PDP said yesterday that copies of statements it had seen raised serious issues that needed to be investigated further.
"The statements the Party has seen are from a number of ex-workers of the Dr Giraldi Home as well as family members of disabled users. These statements throw up a picture of discontent among families and generic maladministration, lack of resources, training or proper staffing and lack of care at the home."
The statements arose from the unfair dismissal case brought by Joanna Hernandez and currently being heard by an Industrial Tribunal chaired by Isaac Massias (see pages 3 and 4), but irrespective of the outcome of the Tribunal case it was incumbent on Government to investigate these issues and make a statement on the results of such investigation, the PDP said.
"No doubt there are good and committed care workers at the home whose conduct should not be tarnished by the actions of those who are not. However, the Government is politically accountable for the standard of care, level of resources and training offered to staff at the Home. The concerns of the families are so widespread that a full enquiry into the running of the home should be convened so that the fullest recommendations could be made to deliver fundamental changes to the service being provided.
"These matters cannot be ignored. Serious allegations surface from time to time and must be firmly addressed by Government. Equally there needs to be a programme of further investment in resources and training to provide a much better service to the disabled and families of the disabled. The PDP calls on Government to take firm action in this area without further delay."
The PDP's call came on the heels of a statement issued earlier in the week by TGWU/ACTS that also called for "a comprehensive and public inquiry" following allegations about the care practices in the Social Services Agency which were "having a detrimental effect on the morale of the staff, service users and their families".
PUBLIC CONCERN To "disperse any doubts about the practices in the Social Services Agency" the union demanded a full enquiry "on all matters surrounding the items which have been highlighted in the press, and which have caused concern to all interested parties."
It urged that an independent body should carry out the investigation and should also monitor the workings of the Social Services Agency in the short, medium and long term "to protect the interest of staff, service users and families". This was "a quality measure geared towards transparency and continuous improvements in the service," a union spokesman explained.
Surprisingly - although GSLP leader Joe Bossano is appearing for Hernandez at the wrongful dismissal hearing, and several Opposition MPs who have seen the witness statements relating to abuse and sexual misconduct have expressed their personal dismay at the allegations - the official Opposition has remained silent in the furore surrounding the GHA and the Agency.
Public concern about the Giraldi Home allegations and the claims by a group of doctors of unprofessional conduct and intimidation in the GHA first reported in VOX, were aggravated by the disclosure that a panel from the Britain's GMC which investigated the death of 40-year old Keith Rocca in 2004.
Rocca had been admitted to St Bernard's with chickenpox and died soon afterwards. The GMC investigation into allegations of "misconduct and deficient professional performance" against Dr Sebastian Monzon Perez had been initiated by the GHA; and in its report this week the Council's panel found that Perez's care of the patient was "inadequate, inappropriate and...irresponsible."
In evidence the panel heard criticism of the culture at St Bernard's Hospital and that there was "a lack of medical governance and training for staff at that time. Monzon - on whom the GMC has placed restrictions in terms of his work -told the panel that there was low morale among the hospital's staff.
He had also criticised nurses and attempted to blame colleagues in relation to Rocca's death and sought to blame colleagues, for Rocca's death, but these did not excuse Monzon's "multiple failures".
"Your actions and inactions at various points during the day cannot be explained by any system failures you attribute to the Hospital and its staff," Monzon was told.
The results of the investigation raised two additional issues which needed to be addressed, the PDP said.
"In the first place the GMC Panel heard evidence of ‘the culture at St Bernards Hospital and the information which indicates that there was a lack of medical governance and training for staff at that time.' The Panel also heard about low morale at St Bernard's Hospital. While accepting that these issues were not excuses for medical shortcomings the Panel in its findings stated that "it accepts that you were working in a hospital which in some respects was dysfunctional and in which other junior medical staff also experienced difficulties and lack of support."
In view of the finding of the GMC the PDP call on Government to make a statement as to the measures that have been or are being put in place to address the "dysfunctional" practices alluded to by the GMC. If other junior medical staff experience similar problems it is incumbent on Government to ensure the public is reassured that these matters are being addressed now that deficiencies have been found by the GMC.
"Secondly the Government must make clear when it knew of the results of this investigation and why it has not made a statement in relation to its results. It is clear that the GMC Panel reached its findings in late September 2007 with the sanctions on the doctor being applied from 20th October. The PDP call on Government to explain the delay in its reaction to such a serious matter given that issues of a wider remit that impact on the way the hospital is or was run have been raised by the GMC."
Meanwhile hard-hitting lawyer Charles Gomez, who is acting for the dead man's widow and children, confirmed that he has instituted Supreme Court proceedings against the GHA to claim substantial - though unspecified - damages on behalf of the bereaved family.
http://www.vox.gi/Local/Unions_PDP_Call_Official_Healthcare_Probe-30112007.html?PHPSESSID=6ae044b85a976048a34661c1aaa37637 
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