IEMMA GOVERNMENT KNEW OF REEVES RESTRICTIONS

Thursday 15 May 2008

Damaging Claims by Member for Bega: IEMMA GOVERNMENT KNEW OF REEVES RESTRICTIONS

“Despite Iemma Government claims to the contrary, Dr Graeme Reeves was hired despite reference checks highlighting that we was not meant to do obstetrics,” the Member for Bega Andrew Constance said.

Andrew Constance Member for Bega

“Reba Meagher has had 8 months since I first raised the matter surrounding his appointment in the NSW Parliament to explain why Dr Graeme Reeves was employed to work in Pambula and Bega public hospitals despite serious concerns raised in a background check,” Mr Constance said.

“Reba Meagher has been claiming that background checks weren’t performed. Documents expose those claims as false.

“They show that background checks were carried out by Senior Health Department Executive, but were then ignored or dismissed.

Part of a referees report for Dr Reeves transcribed 15/04/2002 states:

OK when normal and has apparently been normal….last heard not meant to do obstetrics.

“Like Reba Meagher’s failure to agree to initiate an inquiry into this matter in September 2007, these revelations again highlight why she must be stood aside.

“The victims of Dr Reeves have the right to a full explanation from the Minister today. They have already suffered enough.”

“This situation is made worse by the fact that the Iemma Government has introduced legislation that fails to legislate compulsory background checks by health services when employing a doctor.

“A loophole in Reba Meagher’s current Bill is that it doesn’t require compulsory background checks or that the employer act on those recommendations.

“Liberal Shadow Minister Jillian Skinner has had to introduce a separate Bill to correct this glaring omission,” Mr Constance said.

“It’s necessary to ensure another tragedy doesn’t occur.

“It would be negligent of Reba Meagher not to agree to this commonsense amendment by the Liberals,” Mr Constance said.