Queensland Health sorry for payments to dead nurses

BT

Queensland Health says it's embarrassed by revelations two dead nurses have continued to be paid as payroll woes continue.

Queensland Health director general Mick Reid has apologised to the families of the women for any distress the errors caused.

"It's clearly inappropriate and I do wish again to apologise to the families of the two nurses for any distress this has caused them," he told the ABC.

"It is embarrassing ... we're working very hard to rectify it, [and ensure] it doesn't occur again."

The two cases are the latest dramatic examples of the problems plaguing Queensland Health's new payroll system.

Since it's roll-out in March, thousands of workers have been overpaid, underpaid or not paid at all, while deceased staff and those who've quit have continued to be paid.

The sixth, fortnightly payrun on the system occurred on Wednesday, with 74,000 health staff checking their bank balances for new mistakes.

The Queensland Nurses Union said the two nurses had died after the system was introduced on March 24 but continued to have their wages paid.

The payments were discovered after colleagues noticed the women's names were still on work rosters.

"They need to put processes in place to ensure it doesn't happen again. It's incredibly distressing for the families and for co-workers," QNU assistant secretary Beth Mohle said this morning.

"It's another sad dimension to this whole debacle."

The union will meet with Queensland Health representatives later today.

Ms Mohle said the union wanted a written guarantee that no employee would be left out of pocket as a result of system failures.

There are concerns that workers' tax will be affected by inaccurate annual earnings statements, while other staff have been hit by bank charges because their accounts were short.

"This is going to go on forever, this debacle, it's never going to end quickly," Ms Mohle said.

" ... it's not just the fact the pays have been mucked up and people have been underpaid, overpaid or not paid at all ... it's all these other implications as well."