IWK Health centre starting whistleblowing tip line

The IWKHealth Centre is launching a whistleblowingphone line foremployees to secretly inform the administration of wrongdoing within the organization.

The hospital'sboardvoted to bring in a new "wrongdoing policy"at itsmeeting in Halifax on Monday night.

A copy of the policy is not yet publicly available.

"Itallows individuals throughout the organization to raise their voice if they're concerned about something that's happening, and there's a process framework around that for how it's dealt with," said Karen Hutt, the chair of the IWK'sboard of directors.

Employeeswanting to report wrongdoing can do soanonymouslythrough the confidential number,Huttsaid.

If they're comfortableidentifyingthemselves, there's a mechanism they can go through that outlines how their concern will be addressed.

Former CEO billed thousands in personal expenses

The IWKhas been under fire since June2017 when a CBC News investigation revealed then-CEO Tracey Kitchexpensed $47,000 in personal charges to the hospitalfor things like air travel, hotels, data overages and car rentals.

The hospital's then-chief financial officer Stephen D'Arcy was also involved in the scandal.

CBC News revealed D'Arcyknowingly helped Kitchprepare an incomplete expense statement to meet provincial reporting standards andremoved criticalemailsrelated to expense preparation for a freedom-of-information disclosure.

Both resigned after their involvement was made public.

Nova Scotia's auditor general is currently looking into theIWK'sbooks and practices.

Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Halifax Regional Police said Monday that officers arestill actively investigatingpossible financial mismanagement at the IWK Health Centre.

No charges have been laid to date.

Tip line 'something that good organizations do'

When asked what prompted the decision to create the new whisteblowingpolicy, Hutt said it was"best practice."

"This is not unique to any certain circumstance or sector. This is something that good organizations do and we think it's a step in the right direction."

Hutt said under theIWK'scode of conduct,there was alwaysa mechanism for employees to identify concerns confidentially.

"This really just formalizes it," she said,"and really steps through what the various chain of command is, and what sort of steps the individual will go through, and what sort of protection we make sure is in place."

"It's anopportunity, likely, to better communicate it, so employees understand that it's there," she said.