Hospital staff posed as ‘patients’ so their urgent care clinic looked busier during ministerial visit

An inquiry has recommended no action be taken against those who took part in the ruse at a rural urgent care centre.
Colac Area Health Urgent Care Centre. Photo: Facebook

Staff at a rural hospital pretended to be ill patients, including one who arrived by ambulance, to make its urgent care clinic appear busier for a ministerial visit.

About 10 staff from other areas of the hospital were involved when the Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, made her VIP visit to the Colac Area Health Urgent Care Centre in August last year.