Healthy hospital staff posed as ‘fake’ patients for Victorian minister’s visit, investigation confirms

Health minister Mary-Anne Thomas says 10 people who were not unwell were inside Colac area health's urgent care clinic during her 2023 visit

• Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates
• Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast

Staff members at a regional hospital posed as fake patients" to make their urgent care clinic appear busier during a visit by the Victorian health minister last year, an investigation has found.

The health minister, Mary-Anne Thomas on Wednesday told reporters an investigation into her visit to Colac area health's urgent care clinic on 9 August 2023, had been completed and the staff would not be sanctioned.

Sign up for Guardian Australia's free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup