A care worker who was sacked after blowing the whistle on nurses who crushed non-prescribed drugs in the tea of demanding patients at Mount Carmel’s Forensic Unit has been awarded €5,000 after winning an unfair dismissal case.
In its ruling, an industrial tribunal noted no evidence was presented during the proceedings to show that the Health Department or the company with which the care worker was employed had conducted an investigation into the reported malpractice.
The tribunal heard how Patrick Agius – whose job was to prepare coffee and tea for patients as well as distribute food – had seen nurses administering medications not prescribed by the hospital’s doctors.
Mr Agius, who knew what medication each patient was prescribed, refused to hand out drinks to patients because he knew the drugs had not been prescribed.
He reported the matter in May 2011 and was eventually sacked from his post with private healthcare provider Support Services Ltd, the firm engaged by the Health Division to provide nursing services.
Mr Agius, who was engaged with a specific agreement to work nights because he had another job in the mornings, told the tribunal he first witnessed the abuse when he...
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