Essay Sample on Healthcare complaints commission v Pandya and Prasad (2017)

Introduction

The healthcare complaints commission was represented by Feneil Shah of the Healthcare complaints commission. Haridavan Pandya requested legal advice from Matthew Byrne NSW Nurses and Midwives Association, and Patricia Robertson represented Sumintra Prasad. On 28 February 2014, around 3.00 pm a visitor went to Bungarribee House seeking to see her husband, who was admitted at the Acute Ward of the mental health facility of Western Sydney Local Health District. Sumintra Prasad, who was in charge of the ward, decided to help the visitor and went to look for the patient, but she could not find him in his room or another place. She requested one of her workmates to look for the patient in the bathroom only to find him collapsed on the floor and having taken his life. It was too late to save the patient when the medics arrived to give him first aid. RN Harivadan Pandya was delegated to look after the patient during that shift, but he had gone to another ward to finish another shift. RN Prasad had observed the behavioral changes of the patient at 2:40 pm before commencing her shift at 2:45 pm. The cause of death of the patient was viewed as a matter for the coroner (McDonald & Then, 2019). The rational focus of this Professional Standards Committee is to assess the conduct of RN Prasad and RN Pandya during working hours and the care administered to the patient. The care administered by RN Pandya did not meet the required standards of a medical practitioner of his caliber. The committee has decided to arrest RN Pandya, place restrictions on his employment, and require supervision and that he should seek further education. The care administered by RN Prasad was below the standards of a well-trained practitioner of his level. The committee found professional misconduct and cautioned RN Prasad.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

The Proceedings

The hearing proceedings led by the Chair of the Committee decided to make an order under clause 7(1)(b)(iv) of Schedule 5D of the National Law, stating that the name of the patient and any information that would identify the patient should not be published. The order was implemented at the start of the hearing, and the patient was referred to as Patient A. The case proceedings were set on 6, 7, and 8 December 2016. According to the Health Practitioner Regulation Law (NSW) (the National Law), there was a need to assess the complaints of RN Prasad and RN Pandya. The ruling focused on the patient based on the shift between the two medical practitioners assigned in the Acute Ward. During the ruling, the healthcare complaints commission was the complainant in each proceeding and dated them on 10 June 2016. Also, Mr. Feneil Shah was required to be presented at the healthcare complaints commission. During the proceedings, Mr. Matthew Byrne of the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association was assigned to represent Harivadan Pandya. Also, Ms. Patricia Robertson from the NSW Nurses and Midwives Association was selected to represent Sumintra Prasad.

At the start of the proceedings, the Commission presented amended particulars of the Pandya Complaint, deleting some particulars and implementing others. There was no objection to our inquiry proceeding based on the amendments. The proceedings of Pandya Complaint was added to Tab 1 of the two volumes of documents presented by the Commission in support of both complaints. The committee received the documents without any objection, and the volumes were marked HCCC-1. Also, during the hearing, the Commission presented a further statement from Ms. Nazma Khan that was added to HCCC-1 as Tab 25A.

During the proceeding, an email was attached to Level 3 Behavioral Assessment and Observation sheets for the three other patients assigned to the care of RN Pandya on that shift in addition to Patient A. A ruling was made under clause 7(1) (b) (IV) of Schedule 5D of the National Law, stating that the name of the patients and any information that would reveal the identity of patients not to be published (Marshall, 2019). The documents presented by the Commission comprised of statements that had been provided to the police for the coronial investigation, transcripts of interviews with the Human Resources Department of Western Sydney Local Health District. The information presented was of immense help during the proceedings. The information was gathered from different events and for different purposes, with the questions being raised in different contexts.

The committee received information without objection to a folder of material on behalf of RN Prasad, identified as SP1. Ms. Robertson presented additional documents highlighting the source of photographs of the Acute Unit and relating to a referee report by Mr. Chy Ong, a Nurse Unit Manager at Bungarribee House. Mr. Byrne presented a folder if the material that was received by the committee without objection and marked HP-1. During the proceedings, Mr. Byrne presented his argument based on 2011, a version in operation at the time of the events being accepted without objection and marked HP-2. During the beginning of our committee, officials received information that their crucial witness Ms. Nazma Khan the Team Leader, was suffering from chest pains, collapsed outside the hearing room, and was rushed to the hospital for assessment and observation. The two parties did not raise any adjournment of the proceedings. The information presented by the Commission was a series of statements of Ms. Khan. The documents presented by Ms. Khan did not concur with other materials and oral evidence; we exercised caution but only because Ms. Khan was not present for cross-examination to be assessed on those points.

Ms. Joseph supported her argument with the public information policy document of the Western Sydney Local Health District. During the proceedings, she stated that employees are required to seek permission before going on meal breaks, or completion of duty, or to leave the ward for any reason. The document was presented to the committee and was received without objection and marked HCCC-2. At the end of the ruling, Mr. Shah presented evidence using oral submissions concerning the complaint against RN Pandya. Also, he requested for protective orders concerning RN Pandya and RN Prasad. Mr. Byrne presented his arguments verbally on behalf of RN Pandya, but the Commission did not have enough time to go through all the submissions during the proceedings.

Based on the analysis of the case study, there is a need to change the way medical practitioners treat patients. Nurses play a significant role in the healthcare industry by ensuring that patients are well attended. As a nurse, different ways can be used to improve healthcare in hospitals. One have "SMART" goals that are specific, measurable, accurate, realistic and time-bound in offering quality services to patients. This approach will help nurses in being accountable to tasks assigned to them by their superiors (Foster & Lasser, 2011). Two, teamwork helps nurses to collaborate in attending to patients' needs. For instance, in case of an emergency, nurses should have a response code that will help them send an alarm to their partners. This helps them to act with immediate effect and attend to a pressing matter in the hospital.

Three, there is a need to create a good connection with patients in the hospital. For instance, nurses can come up with a chart that will help in building a strong relationship with their patients. This approach helps them to feel like part of the community, and the hospital values them. Also, the chart can have welcoming messages that will help in cheering patients. For instance, the chart board can have words like; how are you feeling today? What would you like me to do you today? How did you sleep last night? Did you experience challenges with our medical staff yesterday? Have you taken your medication? These questions help in building a strong connection with patients. As a nurse, I will implement strict disciplinary measures that will keep nurses on the check. This will help in improving the performance of nurses in meeting the needs of patients. Also, it will act as a watchdog in ensuring that nurses are well observant in offering quality healthcare to the patients.

The process of running an organization requires the implementation of well-structured policies that will improve the performance of an organization. As the executive committee, I have enforced the use of transformative leadership in the organization. This style of leadership has helped my nurses in being accountable for any tasks assigned to them by their superiors. This approach helps in delivering quality services to patients who seek our services. Transformative leadership has played a significant role in providing high-quality healthcare in the hospital. For instance, nurses from departments have decided to join forces to come up with effective ways of treating patients or responding during an emergency (Cusack & Smith, 2019). The nurses have decided to come up with a chart labeled with different colors such as red, green, yellow. Red indicates that a patient requires immediate help based on his critical health condition. Green means that a patient's condition can be overseen by one or two nurses and does not need urgent help. Yellow indicates that a patient is in god hands, and his health condition is improving based on the prescription assigned to him by nurses. Also, nurses have joined forces in coming up with a unique platform that allows patients to air their grievances without the fear of being judged. For instance, a nurse can decide to ask a patient to present ideas that need to be changed or addressed in the hospital. This approach helps in creating a favorable working environment between nurses and patients. Also, it shows that the hospital values their patients.

Reference

Cusack, L., & Smith, M. (2019). Portfolios for Nursing, Midwifery, and other Health Professions, E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.

Foster, I. R., & Lasser, J. (2011). Professional Ethics in Midwifery Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.

Marshall, J. E. (2019). Myles Professional Studies for Midwifery Education and Practice E-Book: Concepts and Challenges. Elsevier Health Sciences.

McDonald, F., & Then, S.-N. (, 2019). Ethics, Law, and Health Care: A guide for nurses and midwives. Macmillan Education UK.