Arabic version: تحقيق يدعو إلى التدقيق في عقد مروحيات شمال نيو ساوث ويلز

According to ABC News, a NSW parliamentary inquiry has urged NSW Ambulance not to extend its contract with Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Services unless it is satisfied workplace safety concerns have been addressed. The recommendation followed an inquiry into public-private partnerships in healthcare, initially called to investigate alleged maintenance failures at Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle.

Committee chair Amanda Cohn said witnesses described allegations of a toxic workplace culture at the rescue service, including bullying and psychological abuse. The inquiry found that staff non-disclosure agreements had “prevented transparency, silenced potential whistleblowers and delayed the rectification of issues”.

The parliamentary report said former employees who raised compliance concerns were targeted by a “clique” led by senior management and human resources. It said some faced “verbal insults and mental abuse”, while the effect on staff had been “extreme”, with multiple workers rendered “unable to return to the workforce”. The committee also heard allegations of noncompliant record-keeping, failures to investigate reports of “multiple serious safety breaches”, and a “tick and flick” safety-management culture.

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said he expected a full and unredacted report into the allegations. NSW Ambulance said it had not progressed contract extension discussions while awaiting that report. Under a contract that began in 2017, the service provides aeromedical aircraft and crews to northern NSW; the agreement is due to end in May next year. Northern NSW Helicopter Rescue Services declined to comment. The NSW government has three months to respond to the inquiry’s recommendations.