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Staff at a regional Victorian hospital posed as fake patients during a ministerial visit to make the centre appear busier than it was, a health department investigation has found.
One of the 10 staff members involved in the ruse even arrived by ambulance during Victorian Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas' visit to Colac Area Health in August.
A whistleblower later claimed the hospital had staged a full and busy urgent care centre using its own staff, prompting an investigation into the allegations.
Investigators handed down their findings in a report today, revealing that 10 staff were asked to pose as patients during the visit last year.
Mary-Anne Thomas said she had been at the hospital for a "routine visit" when she addressed the investigation at a press conference today.
"These staff members were registered as patients in the urgent care centre registration system. Their registrations were later cancelled after I had left," Thomas said.
"The group had been enlisted by some management staff to make the urgent care centre appear busier than it actually was."
Ambulance Victoria is investigating the report one of the staff members arrived by ambulance during the ruse, while another staff member occupied a trolley in the back corridor.
Staff not involved in the ruse were aware of what was happening and some even began to play along.
The report said while there had been no direct impact on the health and safety of genuine patients, there was a "real possibility that patient care could have been impacted".
Thomas said the actions were "completely unacceptable".
No disciplinary actions will be taken against the 10 staff involved but they will be counselled on the seriousness of the matter and reminded they can speak up.
The health department also has no authority to take action against management staff who organised the staging.
Colac Area Health has accepted recommendations from the report, including conducting a cultural review to ensure a safe speak up system, and will check back in with the department later this year on its progress.