HOSPICE Eastern Bay of Plenty has been accused of fostering a “culture of fear” following the loss of 39 percent of its staff – including several “key” people – this year.
The organisation’s board of trustees came under fire at its annual meeting on Wednesday night, where present and former staff, as well as volunteers, raised concerns that eight full-time employees, including all of its management team, had left over six months.
A ninth staff member – Robyn Boocock, employed part-time as an educator and nurse – quit yesterday, following the heated meeting. She had been with the organisation for eight years.
She said a culture of fear now existed in the organisation.
“If you attend meetings you are not allowed to air your grievances.”
Board of trustees chairwoman, Terri Eggleton, fielded a barrage of questions, saying she could not comment on individual cases but the board was “concerned about people who have left”.
“For a number of people who have left, replacements have come. We are watching it closely and … doing what we can with the people we have got.”
Ms Eggleton told the Beacon the changes at hospice following the appointment of new chief executive Peter Bassett at the end of last year were not to do with cost-cutting and that no staff were pushed out of the organisation.
She told the annual meeting the changes had been made after the board had asked Mr Bassett to review the various functions of the organisation because of concerns about a funding shortfall in the future.
The managers who have left include Shelly Moloney, former clinical services manager, Rosemary Sloman, who was the head of public relations and Lisa Preston, administration manager.
Most staff did not have new jobs to go to, it was revealed, and some were made to sign confidentiality agreements.
“It took us two years to recruit Shelly Moloney from Auckland. She is seen as one of the top palliative nursing leaders in New Zealand. And now the Eastern Bay has lost her,” said Ms Preston.
“Palliative care is a very specialised field; it is hard getting experienced people.”
Explaining why staff felt compelled to leave, Ms Preston said: “In February 2017 the three of us on the executive team made a desperate plea to the board, telling them what was going on. We were passionate about hospice’s vision and mission and excellent in our roles. Not only were we brushed aside, we were falsely blamed for being uncooperative. I felt I could not work for such an organisation.
“Nobody had jobs to go to. They were just so desperate to go … I was the first to leave,” she said.
“All of the people who left, barring one who left for medical reasons, felt bullied and manipulated.”
Ms Preston said their was a culture of fear within the organisation
Mrs Moloney, who was with Hospice EBOP for three years, declined to comment to the Beacon as she had signed a confidentiality agreement when she left.
A former clinical nurse specialist, who wished only her first name, Sarah, to be used, said she had resigned after almost 15 years at hospice.
“I watched too many people being bullied out of their roles. I am not prepared to stay in an organisation that allows that to happen,” she said.
Ms Eggleton also said people were hearing “one side of the story” with regard to the changes, but she was “not prepared to divulge” details about the reasons people left.
“There has been no change in the quality of services provided. The rest of the clinical team have stepped up and … it has carried on seamlessly,” she said.
Volunteers also raised their concerns at the annual meeting.
“Volunteers are extremely upset that this year we have lost seven key people. Not just any people, but key people … very good, excellent staff.
It is affecting all of us,” said Anne Keane.
“There must be a reason for this.”
Graeme Watt, a hospice volunteer for 11 years, said people were asking “what the hell is going on at hospice?”
He said the organisation was losing its “moral support” in the community.
“You can do changes, but it is how you do those changes.”
Ms Eggleton said the board was aware attitudes to hospice at present were “not the best”.
“Please bear with us. Those who need access to services will get access to services. The changes have not gone down well.”
Hospice in ‘good position’
Peter Bassett
Hospice Eastern Bay of Plenty chief executive
HOSPICE EBOP chief executive Peter Bassett, who replaced outgoing chief executive Ngaire Lewis in November 2016, said the hospice was in a good position and its clinical services team was now “fully staffed and fully operational”, following two part-time appointments, including an accountant and a new fundraising and volunteer manager.
He said there had been no impact on the delivery of services.
“No staff have been bullied by management. All staff who have left have done so of their own volition and for a variety of reasons.”
Mr Bassett said he could not discuss individual cases because of issues of confidentiality, but there were “two sides to every story”.
He said the complaints from volunteers had to be put in perspective as Hospice EBOP had 137 volunteers, and only three voiced their concerns at the annual meeting.
“Hospice is fully functional, all positions are filled. The key thing that we are endeavouring to do is to ensure hospice is sustainable and that it is still here in 30 years.
“If we hadn’t done something, hospice would have been gone in five years.
“Hospice is full of passionate staff, and we are fully supported by the board, who are very happy that we are moving into a settled phase of staff tenure together.
Staff gone
- Maggie McKenzie – day manager of Hospice EBOP shop
- Lisa Preston – administration manager, eight years
- Janet Milbank – accounts, administration and health and safety
- Shelly Moloney – clinical services manager, three years
- Jossie Crous – palliative care nurse
- Sarah – Does not want surname used – clinical nurse specialist, almost 15 years
- Rosemary Sloman – public relations manager, four years’ paid and 20 years’ voluntary service
- Robyn Boocock – part-time educator/nurse, eight years
- Anne Halliday – palliative care nurse
kathy.forsyth@whakatanebeacon.co.nz
