A mental health worker is under investigation after a patient complained she was paid for sexual favours and abused shortly after being released from the secure ward where she worked.
The worker is not currently employed by Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand.
Both he and Te Whatu Ora have refused to discuss the details and outcome of a “thorough investigation” into his alleged conduct.
But the man no longer works for the agency and acknowledged the situation has had a “significant impact” on his family.
He declined to answer specific questions about the allegations.
“We have discussed this as a family and it has reopened wounds and caused emotional damage to some of our family,” he said.
“I’ve put them through enough already. I wouldn’t want my worst enemy to go through what our family is going through.”
The patient is now considering next steps, which may include filing a complaint with the Human Rights, Health and Persons with Disabilities Commission.
“It feels like this is being swept under the rug. I want to know exactly what they did. It’s ridiculous, it’s totally ridiculous. It’s like they’re judging me and leaving me in the dark,” she said.
“It feels like nobody is doing anything… like he’s getting special treatment.”
Complaints
In January this year, the patient emailed Te Wātu Ora Nelson Marlborough a lengthy complaint about a man who works in the mental health team.
She said she spent five weeks in a psychiatric ward in 2023.
She continues to struggle with bipolar disorder and drug addiction.
During her time on the ward, the man had been “genuinely interested” in helping her.
“I was released from hospital on a Friday and started sex work on Saturday and a week later I got a call from an unlisted number saying (the worker) wanted to make an appointment to have sex with me.”
she Herald She agreed to the appointment and had sexual intercourse with him twice.
When he asked for a third appointment, she said her mental health and addiction were not good.
She asked to meet and talk “as a normal human being,” and since the man knew her background, she hoped he would be able to help.
The text messages provided and included in her complaint included: Herald It shows the patient saying she wants to have a “chat” with the man, not an “appointment.”
“I wanted to make a reservation but I only have $75… I’ll have to wait… Might as well look at your (website) site to reassure myself lol,” he replied.
He continued: “I can’t wait to see you, smell you, taste you, feel you.”
The woman agreed to meet for coffee, but instead of helping her, the man took her to a secluded area and began touching her sexually, she said.
“I was really saddened that the only person I thought could help me made me feel mean and stupid,” she said.
“My mental health deteriorated and I lost my mind. I couldn’t stop crying, I felt helpless and I wanted to commit suicide.”
The patient made a complaint to Te Whatu Ora shortly afterwards, revealing text messages the man had sent to her from his work phone.
Then the woman HeraldShe feared her complaint would be ignored because of her problems and career choices.
Te Wātu Ora promises ‘thorough investigation’
On February 2, Te Whatu Ora said it was “deeply concerned” about the complaints and confirmed it was “taking them very seriously”.
“The normal complaints process is being followed and a full investigation will be carried out,” the spokesman said. Herald.
In March she said: “The normal complaints procedure has been followed and a thorough investigation is ongoing.”
“Te Whatu Ora Nelson Marlborough is in regular contact with complainants to ensure they receive support as the process progresses,” she said.
On May 28, she confirmed that the investigation was “closed” but that she “cannot comment further.”
of Herald A spokesperson did not respond to a request for further information by June 4.
“We respect the confidentiality of complaints and employment matters and therefore cannot comment further,” she said.
By that time Herald The agency had filed a request under the Official Information Act, seeking details of any final findings or conclusions about the complaint, any correspondence outlining these to the man, any internal investigations launched or carried out in response to patient complaints, and details of any process changes or improvements.
The request was denied.
“The information requested relates to employment matters and therefore the Nelson Marlborough branch of the New Zealand Ministry of Health is keeping the requested information confidential to protect the privacy of natural persons, including deceased natural persons,” Nelson Marlborough Hospital group operations director for special services, Lexie O’Shea, said.
“The need to withhold this information does not outweigh the public interest in making it public.”
Health authorities obstruct
of Herald We sought further answers to questions directly related to patients’ concerns and dissatisfaction with testing.
O’Shea still declined to comment.
“New Zealand’s Ministry of Health, Nelson and Marlborough branch takes patient safety and wellbeing extremely seriously,” she said, again refusing to comment further, citing “confidentiality of complaints and employment matters”.
of Herald Men are asked specific questions about their relationships and behavior with patients.
He said there were “a lot of gaps in this case” but that he “didn’t want to get embroiled in a protracted debate” about his actions.
“We think it’s in our family’s best interest to not respond,” he said.
“I’m sorry but there are two sides to this story and only one side is being told. The other side is different and is only being told to family and close trusted friends.”
“As I said before, I no longer work at Te Whatu Ora and this has had a significant financial impact on our daily lives.”
‘Truly shocking’: Sex worker advocates call for action
The patient was “very angry” towards the man and Te Whatu Ora.
Despite the promises, she said she had not heard from Te Whatu Ora for “months”.
“They never called me or told me anything,” she said.
She has multiple email addresses and phone numbers for work, but says she has never received any updates no matter what method she uses.
She is also considering other avenues for filing a complaint.
“I don’t have to do that. I don’t have to go through all that hard work to get answers,” she said.
“They should be men and admit what happened and help me heal and move on.
“I think they’re just trying to hide and make themselves look good. That’s not good for anybody.”
The New Zealand Prostitutes Association has offered to support the woman if she decides to take further action.
Spokeswoman Sherida Fraser said the man’s behaviour was “highly inappropriate” and clearly constituted sexual harassment.
“It doesn’t matter if it’s prostitution or not. In a patient-healthcare professional relationship, it’s inappropriate to contact someone for the purpose of sex,” she said.
“This is simply not acceptable in a professional working relationship… In my opinion, this is sexual harassment because she was a patient, a patient with a fragile mental state.”
“The dynamics are really shocking.”
Ms Fraser said it didn’t matter whether the patient accepted the appointment – the fact that the man asked her to make one in the first place was “unacceptable”.
“There is no ‘two positions’ here because as a healthcare professional he was bound by the code of conduct and should have acted accordingly – and the code of conduct says you should not schedule sexual activity with a patient,” she said.
“She is a sex worker and there are things that are appropriate and things that are not. This was inappropriate.”
All health support workers in New Zealand are required to follow a code of conduct and a code of practice.
of Herald I understand that support workers’ contracts also state that they are prohibited from having inappropriate relationships with patients.
Ms Fraser praised patients who complained, noting that many sex workers never speak up because of the stigma surrounding the profession.
“That must have been really hard for her,” she said.
“It’s very unfortunate that the investigation has not produced any results. She will not get justice until we know what the outcome is.”
“It’s really shocking that this has happened to her and that she has no knowledge of whether her husband has been disciplined or held accountable.”
Ms Fraser said there were other options the patient could consider with regard to further complaints and the NZPC would be happy to support and advise her.
“Assistance is still available if she wants it,” she assured.
“If there are any sex workers who find themselves in a similar situation, we can support them to lodge a complaint.”
The woman is heartened by the offer of help – she has been suffering for the past few months and is desperate to get better soon.
She said her experience with the man had affected her deeply and that since making her complaint she had visited hospital multiple times seeking urgent help for drug relapse and improving her mental health.
Every time she goes, she feels anxious about going inside the store, worried that staff will notice and judge her for her complaint.
“I have serious mental illness and I want help to get better,” she said.
“But I feel rejected… No one is helping me. And I wonder why they do that.”
“Maybe it’s because of (the complaints). Maybe it’s because they don’t like me. There’s something wrong with me and nobody’s going to help me. That’s the only reason.”
“I want them to help me recover.”
A series of specific questions about the patient’s comments were among those Te Whatu Ora refused to answer.
Anna Leask is a Christchurch-based reporter covering national crime and justice. She joined the Herald in 2008 and has worked as a journalist for 18 years, focusing particularly on domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assault, homicide, mental health and youth crime. She writes, hosts and produces the award-winning podcast, A Moment In Crime, which is released on the 11th of every month. nzherald.co.nz
