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Mental health sacking: Tebbutt should call on Ramsay to reverse decision
Saturday 26 June 2010
Responding to today's report that Ramsay Health Care sacked a worker who had previously been treated for depression in one of their clinics, Greens MP and health spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the company to drop their discriminatory practices and reinstate the sacked worker.
(SMH page 6 http://bit.ly/ccSX7i)
Mr Alistair Colgrave was employed as a casual nurse at Northside Clinic owned by Ramsay. At the end of his first day he was dismissed. The only reason the company gave for his sacking was that Mr Colgrave had been a patient at the clinic for his bi-polar condition. He has not been offered work in another facility run by Ramsay. Mr Colgrave only sought work with Ramsay when his condition stabilised. He was never asked by Ramsay to disclose his medical condition.
"Ramsay Health Care's motto 'People caring for people' grates when you hear how Mr Colgrave has been treated,” Ms Rhiannon said.
“Health Minister Carmel Tebbutt should act on this matter. The Minister could assist by making representations to Ramsay Health Care for Alistair Colgrave to be reinstated and to work with the company to assist them to change their discriminatory practices.
"Ramsay's actions smack of the bad old days where the stigma of a mental health condition served to dog a person's working life.
"There are many in our society who would be in the same situation. Ramsay should review its policies to ensure this kind of blatant discrimination is not repeated.
“I spoke to senior management people in Ramsay about Mr Colgrave's sacking and was concerned that they tried to justify their decision.
“Not only has Ramsay shown no compassion to Mr Colgrave I believe they have broken the law. This is a clear case of unfair dismissal.
“Ramsay should acknowledge that what they did is wrong and immediately reinstate Mr Colgrave.
"There are many in our society who would be in the same situation. Ramsay should review its policies to ensure this kind of blatant discrimination is not repeated,” Ms Rhiannon said.
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