The Registered Nurses Union is “deeply troubled” by remarks made in the House of Assembly yesterday by Health Minister John Hogan.
The minister revealed during Question Period that a number of leasing arrangements had been terminated after it was learned that health authority managers were leasing properties to agency nurses at what the RNU called a “significant” profit.
Opposition health critic Barry Petten then asked whether charges were laid to which the minister replied;
“They are two different things right? Someone can be unethical and not necessarily breach the criminal code. They are two different things, so it was ensure compliance with the Conflict of Interest Act and the Public Procurement Act.”
The RNU calls that statement both shocking and disappointing. President Yvette Coffey says “the distinction between ethics and law made by the minister sends a disturbing message.”
She says if a nurse breaches their code of ethics, the consequences are severe, they face investigation, potential discipline from the College of Registered Nurses, with possible termination. However they have yet to see whether any “unethical” managers face similar accountability.
Opposition frustrated by minister’s failure to answer whether disciplinary action was taken
Minister Hogan would not say whether the manager or managers in question have been disciplined or fired as a result of breaches to the Conflict of Interest and Public Procurement acts.
Hogan would only indicate that the Auditor General is conducting a performance audit of health sector contracts in the province.
The minister was asked repeatedly by Opposition House Leader Barry Petten whether the manager(s) involved were disciplined or fired.
“Has anyone been disciplined or fired? That was my question” a frustrated Petten asked. “I do look forward to the Auditor General’s report” was Hogan’s response, “there hasn’t been findings yet from her report, she’s looking into this. I appreciate that the former minister wrote this as soon as it came to his attention, and I look forward to the Auditor General’s report.”
Petten fired back, “I think the minister does know the answer. He should know the answer, he ought to know the answer; because he’s the Minister of Health.”
