A nurse has been sacked and three others disciplined over two separate incidents in which drugs were mishandled at Bundaberg Hospital, while others are being urged to speak out against alleged misconduct.
Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service chief executive Debbie Carroll said on Tuesday that four nurses had been subject to internal investigations.
"We took swift and firm action and followed the due process that led to disciplinary action of four nurses," she said.
It is understood a senior nurse had her employment terminated and "remedial action" was taken against two other staff members over an incident in October 2021 involving the mishandling of medication.
The incident did not involve any patients.
Four months earlier, in June 2021, another nurse was accused of administering the anti-psychotic drug Olanzapine to a patient at a higher dose than was prescribed.
The health service said the patient was not harmed and the nurse was no longer able to administer medication.
Ms Carroll said the circumstances of both incidents were confidential and she was unable to provide any more detail while a further review was carried out.
The revelations of alleged misconduct were raised in Queensland Parliament last month by LNP Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett, who has called for an external independent inquiry into Bundaberg Hospital.
"This should send shock waves through our community that finally there's an admission that this activity looks like it did carry out exactly as I said," he said.
Questions over criminal activity
Labor Member for Bundaberg Tom Smith and Mr Bennett have clashed over who was responsible for reporting incidents to police if criminal activity was alleged.
"If there are allegations made by the Member for Burnett, and if he has evidence, you must go to the health minister and you must go to the police," Mr Smith said.
Mr Bennett said he had already provided the minister with the relevant information.
"The Member of Bundaberg wants me to go to the police. Well, quite frankly, that's the minister's role," Mr Bennett said.
The health service said no patients were harmed in either of the incidents.
Staff urged to speak up
Ms Carroll said there was no need to update Bundaberg Hospital's complaints process and encouraged anyone, including staff, to come forward.
"We've got a robust complaints process where people can certainly raise their complaints," she said.
"We're keen to hear from nurses because we're here to provide the best possible care for our patients and the best quality care. That's what we do each and every day.
"We welcome anybody who's got issues to speak up and we'll certainly address those issues."
