Sexual harassment claims dismissed
Allegations a senior doctor at Waikato Hospital sexually harassed and bullied a senior female colleague have been dismissed following an independent investigation.
But the doctor has been told to stop his ‘‘tactile approach’’.
Waikato Hospital launched an urgent probe into allegations of sexual harassment and bullying in its general medicine department in April 2017.
The allegations followed a damning report by the Medical Council of New Zealand, with claims bullying and harassment were under-reported at the hospital.
The complaint focused on allegations made by a female senior clinician against a male colleague.
The allegations, which the DHB described as ‘‘serious’’, were raised at a meeting on March 21 last year.
The independent investigation, which concluded in December, found no evidence of bullying or sexual harassment, although noted the male clinician’s ‘‘tactile approach to colleagues’’ had caused distress and must stop.
In a letter sent to staff, the DHB acknowledged comments made by the male clinician on one occasion were neither professional nor in keeping with the Waikato DHB’s expectations of senior staff.
‘‘It has undoubtedly been an incredibly bruising process for a number of people involved and it will take take time and effort for relationships to be repaired,’’ the letter’s authors, Alex Gordon and Liz Phillips, wrote.
Waikato DHB director of people and performance Greg Peploe declined to be interviewed, but in a statement said the DHB’s report would not be made public.
Peploe said the health board would not reveal who made the complaint or their role.
‘‘It is in the public interest that staff feel able to report bullying or harassment in the workplace and disclosure of this information has the potential to identify the affected parties and could adversely impact on the willingness of staff to report these concerns in the future,’’ Peploe said.
The Medical Council of New Zealand’s report, which was presented to board members in October last year, said instances of bullying may not be reported by doctors because of concerns about confidentiality and potential repercussions.
Speaking at the health board’s October meeting, DHB interim chief executive Derek Wright said the medical council’s report identified issues regarding the hospital’s culture which had to be addressed.
Health board data shows 161 complaints were made against staff by colleagues between January 2016 and September 2017.
The complaints included allegations of bullying and harassment, assault, uncivil or unprofessional behaviour, and unauthorised contact with patients.