Multiple ACT Health employees were formally investigated over allegations of bullying, workplace misconduct and inappropriate behaviour.
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Documents obtained by the Sunday Canberra Times under freedom of information laws show 10 employees were the focus of internal inquiries during the 2017-18 financial year.
Of those 10 people, three were investigated for allegations of bullying and harassment in the workplace.
Three employees were sacked as a result of the investigations, it is unclear what for, and seven were sanctioned. Employees could have been sacked and sanctioned, although it is unclear how many.
In one case, no misconduct was found.
The documents did not state whether any of the investigations into ACT Health staff were ongoing.
Among the allegations listed in the documents were employees accused of inappropriate behaviour" which included drug and alcohol-related issues while at work.
Others were accused of breaching confidentiality, providing misleading information or improperly using government property.
Others were alleged to have left the workplace without authority, or failed to advise of previous criminal convictions against them.
The revelations come as the ACT government announced an independent review into the ACT public health system, looking into staff culture, mismanagement and issues of bullying and harassment.
ACT Health Minister Meegan Fitzharris ruled out a more powerful board of inquiry, which would afford specific protections to witnesses.
The Australian Medical Association ACT branch earlier this week called for a full board of inquiry, which would have similar powers to a royal commission.
Canberra Liberals health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne called for a board of inquiry through a motion in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday but it was voted down by Labor and the Greens.
The number of ACT Health employees under investigation for alleged misconduct in 2017-18 was down from the previous financial year.
During 2016-17, 22 cases of inappropriate staff conduct were investigated by ACT Health, seven of which were either alleged bullying or harassment.
Two staff members resigned due to the allegations, with a further three resigning before the investigation was concluded. Another left ACT Health after their contract had expired.
Ms Fitzharris told the Sunday Canberra Times there was no evidence of chronic under-reporting of bullying incidents, but acknowledged that staff sometimes found it difficult to come forward to make complaints.
"There is no place for bullying and harassment or any other form of inappropriate behaviour in our hospitals and health facilities," Ms Fitzharris said.
"ACT Health takes accusations of bullying and harassment and any other forms or inappropriate behaviours seriously and investigates allegations appropriately.
"It's good to see these issues were addressed by ACT Health, with serious consequences for people who do the wrong thing in the workplace."
An ACT Health spokeswoman said the number of employees investigated was a fraction of the 7000 staff within the organisation.
"There has been a concerted effort to improve workplace culture since March, when the Australian Council of Healthcare Standards conducted an initial site visit at Canberra Hospital and Health Services as part of the accreditation process," the spokeswoman said.
"We have seen significant improvement in this period, as evidenced by the final ACHS report."
The spokeswoman said ACT Health complaints processes are well-established and constantly being improved, with it to be a key focus of the independent review.
"Any allegation of bullying or harassment in the workplace is concerning and ACT Health takes these seriously, and our figures show our processes are working," she said.
"There is zero tolerance for inappropriate behaviour in the workplace."
Ms Dunne said the cases investigated are just the tip of the iceberg.
"Health staff are too afraid to officially report cases of bullying because those that have are targeted and vilified," Ms Dunne said.
"More and more health staff are reporting incidents of bullying to the opposition, independent medical bodies and even the media because they do not trust government channels.
"The Canberra Liberals have dealt with more cases of bullying and harassment [in ACT Health] than [those investigated] in the past year."
