THE PANADOL SAGA CONTINUES

The Cart is leading the Horse!
I have already advised you that the CANZ National President and National Secretary attended the recent and apparently productive meeting on the issue of medication. What I neglected to inform you was that the Departmental representatives were,

Department of Corrections Health & Safety Consultant Gordon Tait,
PPS National HR Manager Osie Osborne,
Department of Corrections Corporate HR Adviser Gail De Lys
PPS National H&S Project Team Leader Jo Parsons

Both Mr. Osborne and Mr. Tait have agreed that the recent CANZ update accurately reflects the outcome of Tuesday's discussions. Imagine my surprise then, when I received a copy of the following "Urgent Notice to All Staff" at Tongariro/Rangipo:

"I am aware that custodial staff have been advised by CANZ to stop administering Panadol to inmates as a result of a meeting held in National Office yesterday. I can confirm that discussions did take place. There was, however, no decision made at that meeting that would mean that staff should stop existing practices.

I have spoken with and also received a report from the Regional Health Services Manager that assures me that our existing practices are safe and while we await further direction from National Office the status quo on site is to remain. That is staff will continue to administer Panadol to inmates as in the past".

Cheers
Jack Harrison
Site Manager

Mr. Harrison acknowledges that the discussions reported in the CANZ Update have taken place and he is also aware that they related to significant concerns regarding the distribution of medication by Corrections Officers. Accordingly, it would have been in the interests of Health and Safety in general, and the CANZ/PPS relationship in respect of Health & Safety matters in particular, if Mr. Harrison had simply picked up the phone and raised his concerns with senior management in attendance at that meeting.

I must say I'm surprised that he chose not to do so. However, it would be fair to say that I'm shocked, stunned and not a little amazed to find that he has chosen to ignore the contents of the CANZ update on the basis of,

1. The advice of his Regional Health Services Manager, and
2. His own considered opinion!

It is this sort of inflammatory and confrontational reaction that makes us (CANZ National Representatives) wonder why we commit your resources to endeavours of this kind in the first place; We attend these meetings in good faith, reach what we consider to be a mutually beneficial agreement and then frequently find that managers throughout the country choose to ignore the outcome. Accordingly, I will begin my outline of CANZ's official position regarding the issuing of Panadol by Corrections officers with a statement that is not only an extract from my original open letter, but also reflects the general consensus of opinion of all in attendance at Tuesday's meeting:

Not only is this practice unacceptable - it is also arguably illegal! If an inmate is ill, then someone with the appropriate qualifications must assess him/her. If no one is available then an appropriate staff member should be called back, or the inmate concerned escorted to a suitable place for assessment and/or treatment.

Given the fact that we went to a great deal of trouble and expense to ascertain the Department's considered opinion regarding these matters, we have no other option than to respond to Mr. Harrison's "Urgent Notice" in the manner in which it was issued:

i. It is CANZ's view that the issuing of Panadol by Officers to Inmates not only constitutes a Health & Safety risk; it is also illegal.
ii. Accordingly, it is our considered opinion that the instructions contained in Mr. Harrison's update are not lawful!

We strongly advise our members to contact "duty" or "on call" medical staff on each and every occasion that an inmate presents as ill. Furthermore, I will be advising our National Officers that, in the event that this "Urgent Notice" is not withdrawn by tomorrow (today being a Statutory Holiday), then we make urgent application for compliance to the Employment Relations Authority and use the offending document as evidence.

In the meantime, if you are instructed to issue such medication, you must immediately contact your CANZ delegate before doing so. I will be available for support throughout the day, either on my office phone (03 3267260) or mobile phone (0274 401320).

I will keep you updated.

Regards,
Brian Davies
National Organiser