Last night 7news broke the story of a scandal at the Western Regional Hospital: a male hospital driver had started up a visiting relationship with a female patient – he had been allowed into the ward at irregular hours by the nursing staff – even being allowed to pass the night. Just on the face of it, it's a gross violation of protocol, but it's even more serious because the patient is before the court facing multiple charges; she was placed in the ward at the court's order to determine if she is fit to stand trial.
It's a very troubling breakdown in the system since, evidence shows, he was let into the ward repeatedly by the psychiatric nurse practitioners – who should have been there to see to very traumatized patient's recovery, not to get her "hooked up" in a new relationship.
But that's just what appears to have happened, and now the driver has been suspended and the nurses transferred. But there are still many questions left unanswered, centrally: how could this be allowed to happen over a period of time? That's what we asked hospital administrator Bernadette Nicholson when we spoke to her via phone an hour and a half ago:…
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson - Administrator, Western Regional Hospital
"When we found out that there were some breaches in the protocol, immediately we reminded the nurses of the protocols."
Jules Vasquez
"If the well-being of the patient was at stake, why wasn't the driver suspended immediately pending investigation, when you had first discovered this weeks ago?"
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"We had to give the driver due process before we recommended suspension."
Jules Vasquez
"One has the sense that the nurses that let that man to spend evenings with this emotionally vulnerable patient and also somebody's whose pending trial - these people should be sent home - it's outrageous."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"I can't speak to that right now because the investigation is ongoing and those issues will also be addressed."
Jules Vasquez
"I understand that your investigation turned out that there has been no evidence of sexual intercourse between the driver and the patient."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"Yes, we haven't found any evidence that is able to support that."
Jules Vasquez
"You told me earlier that you called in the driver and spoke with him and at the time he denied having a relationship with this patient."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"Well we had to speak with him - I cannot give any information where the interest of the patient will be jeopardized and I can't continue further to talk about that."
Jules Vasquez
"Yes, but I'm saying - if the interest of the patient were so important, well when the investigation started at the mere suspicion of something as outrageous as this happening; the driver should have been suspended."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"Of course you see we have to give him due process."
Jules Vasquez
"The time between when you all found out and when the suspension happened - the relationship was still ongoing."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"I can't speak on the patient's issues, it's private and confidential and I will not jeopardize the confidentiality of the patient."
Jules Vasquez
"Yes ma'm, I completely respect that - absolutely. But I'm saying you're using the patient confidentiality as a screen in order to mask administrative inaction. Obviously it's such an egregious violation that even the suggestion of wrong doing - the person has to be extracted from the situation and that was not done because of this 'due process' consideration."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"We believe we acted swiftly in addressing the issue and getting the driver suspended."
Jules Vasquez
"Is it your opinion - based on information that you have, that the relationship continued even after the investigation was launched?"
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"I will not give an opinion there."
Jules Vasquez
"It's just a statement of fact, it's either it was or wasn't."
Voice of Bernadette Nicholson
"I think I want to conclude this interview Mr. Jules."
7news has received credible reports that the patient had to take a pregnancy test today – but, due again to confidentiality issues, Nicholson would not discuss this.
The other issue is whether all these emotional changes will affect the patient's recovery and fitness to stand trial. The DPP just returned to the country today and could not comment on that. We note that at her last court appearance, the patient indicated that she wanted to stay at the psychiatric unit.
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