As the reader may be aware the saga of The Royal Hobart Hospital’s suspended Chief Executive Michael Pervan has been ongoing for a considerable period of time, in fact since 24th September 2010 if memory serves me correctly i.e. for more than 8 months.
From personal experience as a Human Resources professional for over 30 years, it does not take eight months to investigate and resolve an allegation of inappropriate conduct.
Indeed HR best practice would give it at most 10 working days – not as in this case more than 155 working days.
Back in January this year I wrote to the then Premier expressing my concern for RHH and Mr Pervan (at this time the so called investigation had already been ongoing for just on 4 months).
Last week I finally received a reply last week from the Office of the Premier and signed by Ms Giddings.
Download letter:
CORRO_-_signed_letter_Mr_John_Regan_-_Royal_Hobart_Hospital_-_Mr_Michael_Pervan_-_CA334921.pdf
This reply indicated to me that effectively no further progress had been made in resolving these allegations than was the case when I wrote to her predecessor in January.
I am concerned that:
• the allegation and the DHSS’ response has become a political football;
• Mr Pervan is by far the most significant VICTIM of this saga and, rather than being a perpetrator;
• Because he has effectively ended up being the one bullied by the failure to resolve this saga.
Since early March, the Supreme Court has been considering the legality of the DHHS’ behaviour in this case but, given that more than 6 weeks later a final judgement is still awaited, I fear that political pressure may be being brought to bear to influence the outcome.
WHile this saga drags on, RHH, on the cusp of extensive federally-funded redevelopment, continues to get by with interim leadership: the second appointee to this interim position is not only interim but also part-time as she combines RHH leadership with her executive position at North West Area Health Services.
It is small wonder that a decline in morale and a decline in service performance has been noted, the latter being reported within Tasmania’s media. And all the while the man who was widely reputed as being RHH’s most effective CEO is left “incarcerated within the Tower” and is shuffled at the whim and order of the Secretary and now Acting Secretary, Alice Birchell, between various empty DHHS offices.
As a concerned member of the Southern Tasmanian public who would like to have confidence in our public hospital and overall state health service, I continue to ask:
When is this matter to be resolved?
When will RHH regain its CEO?
When will Mr Pervan receive justice?
