Having been back from his leave for a week Mr Graeme Slade, the SSWAHS Designated Senior Complaints Officer, has continued to show his disdain about providing the written feedback to a series of complaints made almost 12 months ago. Socrates has no knowledge of Mr Slade and, possibly, he could be a diligent individual who takes his job seriously. He could, however, be somewhat constrained by a more senior figure in the SSWAHS Executive. So in the interest of ensuring that others might be willing to draw their own conclusions, Socrates has undertaken to ensure that the truth be told. I take the view that, in a democratic society, the freedom of speech is still possible.
Ms Carmel Tebbutt, MP
Minister for Health
Level 30, Governor Macquarie Tower
1 Farrer Place Sydney NSW 2000
13 April 2010
Dear Ms Tebbutt
RE: Complaint against the Sydney South West Area Health Service
I write in reference to my correspondence of 4 November 2009, a copy of which is enclosed, in which I expressed some serious concerns I had about the state of the safety of staff working in the mental health services of the Sydney South West Area Health Service and of the clinical governance exercised by the Area Executive.
As the Minister responsible for Health I thought it would be appropriate for me to draw these matters of concern to your attention. It is disappointing, therefore, some six months later to have not received a response or even an acknowledgement from your office that you may share these concerns and consider that some appropriate action be taken to address the issues I relayed to you, among others, of a safe working environment for staff working in mental health assessment and treatment services, particularly in a rural or regional area.
Yours sincerely,
Kevin O’Neill
Psychologist and
Credentialed Mental Health Nurse
