Chris Dobney
Amid fighting with nurses over the implementation of ‘telehealth’ technology, dealing with shortages of doctors and wrangling ongoing funding issues, you’d think that Northern NSW Local Health District bureaucrats would have enough on their plates.
But sometime this month one has found the time to pen a memo instructing staff not to address their colleagues or clients as darling, honey, sweetheart – or even mate.
ABC radio reported that the memo told employees the terms of endearment could be seen as ‘disrespectful, disempowering and non-professional’.
The memo went on to say the directives were ‘in line with the NSW ministry code of conduct.’
God forbid the healthcare system should have a human touch. No wonder they’re so keen on replacing people with machines.