PHSA is building a culturally safe, inclusive environment where everyone feels like they belong – and where everyone feels protected and empowered if they choose to speak up when things aren’t right.
B.C.'s new Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA), effective June 1, 2023 for all health authorities, provides a safe, legally protected way for current and former employees (including medical staff) to report serious or systemic issues of wrongdoing to their supervisor, a designated officer or to the Ombudsperson. PIDA prohibits people from retaliating against employees who speak up about potential wrongdoing in the public sector.
Therefore, PHSA has developed a
Public Interest Disclosure Act policy, also effective June 1, 2023, to provide our staff and leaders with a clear process for application and implementation of PIDA.
Employees can report wrongdoing that has happened in the past, is currently taking place, or is about to happen. (Former employees can only report wrongdoing that they discovered, or that occurred, while they were employed).
Employees can (and should) report wrongdoing even if they are not sure that it meets the definition of wrongdoing under PIDA. There is no penalty if a report does not qualify as wrongdoing.
Wrongdoing is defined specifically under PIDA and our policy to mean:
- A serious act or omission that, if proven, would constitute an offence under the laws of B.C. or Canada
- An act or omission that creates a substantial and specific danger to the life, health or safety of persons, or to the environment, other than a danger that is inherent in the performance of an employee’s duties or functions
- A serious misuse of public funds or public assets
- Gross or systemic mismanagement
- Knowingly directing or counselling a person to commit any of the wrongdoing described above
- Serious/ongoing racism or discrimination
- Sizable theft of health authority assets or property
- Financial or other fraud
- Ongoing use of faulty medical equipment
- Ongoing mistreatment of patients or clients
- Awarding contracts for personal financial gain
- Practices causing ongoing health and safety violations
- Approval of dangerous medicines or procedures in exchange for funding.
Employees and medical staff who are considering making a disclosure under PIDA can seek advice about doing so from:
You can also contact PHSA's designated officer through the Safe Reporting Office.
Employees and medical staff can disclose serious wrongdoing under PIDA to:
You can also contact PHSA's designated officer through the Safe Reporting Office.
All disclosures of wrongdoing must be in writing
using this disclosure form. If a report cannot be made in writing, contact the above noted persons for further assistance.
PIDA does not replace other established processes to address concerns pertaining to:
- Patient care quality: For concerns and compliments about patient care from a patient, their next of kin or members of the public, please discuss with clinical management or contact the PHSA Patient Care Quality Office.
- Collective agreements: For labour agreement violations covered by an applicable collective agreement, please contact your union office or union representative.
- Work Safe BC: For reports on safety hazards and unsafe conditions made in accordance with the provision of Section 3.10 of the WCB Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, please contact Work Safe BC.
