Nurses have hit out at an email sent by a Canberra Health Services senior executive which suggested staff might steal medications to prepare for a "big weekend".
The executive who sent the email has apologised, saying it was meant to be "light-hearted" and it was not meant to be accusatory.
The email was sent despite there being no evidence of medicines being stolen for this purpose. Rather, it was merely sent to staff to remind them of their obligations.
The message has been labelled as insensitive by nurses, who say it was inappropriate - particularly as many are feeling burnt out and exhausted after dealing with the relentless strain of the COVID pandemic.
The email, sent by Canberra Health Services acting deputy chief executive Colm Mooney on March 31, sought to remind staff they were not allowed to take medications such as Panadol from medication rooms at hospitals.
"While ducking into the medication room to grab a couple of Panadol for a headache or some ondansetron in preparation for a big weekend might seem pretty harmless, it's not," the executive said in the email.
"Taking medication of any kind from the medication room that has not been ordered for a patient is theft.
"If you're caught, you could have a bigger headache to contend with as your job, professional registration and more may be on the line. Why risk it at all?"
Nurses have expressed deep disappointment at the way the message was handled.
A member of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation ACT branch wrote an open letter addressing the email.
"We've cried at the start of shifts and at the end of shifts," the ANMF member said.
"We've held the hands of those dying without family being present and worn the anger of carers unable to see loved ones in hospital.
"So, while we understand the important underlying message in your note, you'll have to excuse us if we seem a little confused about why you'd send this message right now, in this way, when we're feeling so tired, overwhelmed and broken."
The member said if people were taking Panadol, it was because they were actually sick and not because they wanted to party.
"Just so you know, if any of us are in need of Panadol or ondansetron, it's not for a party. It's because we're sick to the stomach and stressed about providing the right care for our patients with not enough staff," the member said.
Mr Mooney apologised for the tone of the email. He said good communication was important from the senior leadership team, and given team members were busy it was important to make the messages engaging.
"One of the ways we seek to make that connection is by trying to encourage a smile or laugh," he said.
"The email was intended as a light-hearted way of reminding team members of their obligations when it comes to medication handling.
"In hindsight we got the messaging wrong, and for that I apologise.
"The message was in no way meant to be accusatory and I am sorry it came across that way."
Mr Mooney said there were no systemic issues regarding medication handling, and the email was sent out to remind staff of their obligations.
He said he acknowledged the hard work of team members over the past two and a half years, agreeing they had gone above and beyond to provide care to the community.
Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation ACT branch secretary Matthew Daniel said the email was mistimed and misguided.
"To suggest that staff might be taking Panadol so that they can have a good night out just completely misreads the situation of where our members are at," Mr Daniel said.
"The executive should know, and do know because we've told them, that their staff are stressed, are burnt out and they've had enough.
"To come out with that is a real slap in the face."
Mr Daniel said both nurses and the union knew their responsibilities, and agreed it was wrong to take medications from the hospital - but if the drugs had been taken it would not have been to prepare for a big night out.
He said that a staff medical centre should be provided for nurses to access, or the onsite pharmacy could be opened 24 hours.
"Nurses have suffered mentally and physically during the two years of the pandemic, and they're still talking about the effects of having to wear personal protective equipment," Mr Daniel said.
"They're saying they would have a need for Panadol because they have headaches from wearing heavy and hot PPE for long periods of time. They are not looking for Panadol for a big night out."
