An investigation has been launched into allegations that a regional hospital in Victoria staged a busy emergency department during Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas' visit last year. Claims have surfaced that up to 10 staff members and their family members posed as fake patients, propped up on sick beds to create an appearance of a full urgent care clinic. St Vincent's Hospital has stated that it takes patient privacy obligations seriously and is looking into the matter as a priority. The Victorian opposition is demanding answers, and Health Minister Thomas, according to Sky News host Andrew Bolt, has indicated that she had no knowledge of the staged patients during the visit.
A hospital is under investigation tonight over claims it staged a busy emergency department for a ministerial visit. The Victorian hospital is being accused of hiring fake patients for the visit. @Tyra_Stowers is here with the latest. https://t.co/dVGEvjGW5w #TheLatest #7NEWS https://t.co/DQ27YUuuIU
Sky News host Andrew Bolt says Victoria’s Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas maintains she had “no idea” about the visitors posing as “urgent care patients” in a photo opportunity. https://t.co/netCmPm8mM
A local health service in Victoria is facing bizarre claims it organised fake patients for a government visit last year. https://t.co/FCOdMlxS77
The Victorian opposition is demanding the truth come out after the Allan government became embroiled in a "fake patient" scandal following a ministerial visit to an urgent care clinic. https://t.co/kgFep0ym60
Claims that 10 staff members at a regional hospital posed as “patients” propped up on sick beds for a ministerial visit have sparked a major probe into the health service. > https://t.co/QwlKhZswVz https://t.co/JWI4LCqow3
Investigation launched into claims fake patients used during Victorian minister’s hospital visit https://t.co/LoBWKJydwx
The Health Department is investigating allegations that medical staff and their family members posed as fake patients for Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas’ visit to an urgent care clinic in Colac last year.https://t.co/HJlOLo37wb
Claims that 10 staff members at a regional hospital posed as “patients” propped up on sick beds for a ministerial visit have sparked a major probe into the health service > https://t.co/vL9AiYpsfN https://t.co/hXeKnC84qv
"St Vincent's takes patient privacy obligations extremely seriously and is investigating this issue as a matter of priority." #9News https://t.co/oJds4c7qdw