Widespread bullying of health workers
Health bosses have once again been forced to apologise to current and former staff members after a survey revealed extensive bullying in Argyll and Bute.
In a survey commissioned by NHS Highland, 68 per cent of respondents said they had experienced bullying and harassment. In total, 446 (29 per cent) of 1,540 NHS staff at Argyll and Bute HSCP, plus 62 former employees, responded to the independent survey.
NHS Highland is working on building ‘a culture of trust, fairness and respect’ in response to the damning findings of the Sturrock Report on bullying within NHS Highland. This has so far seen the announcement of the ‘Healing Process’, a new Employee Assistance Programme and indeArgyll pendent ‘Speak Up’ service, due to begin on July 1. An independent helpline has been set up as part of a 100-day action plan.
Argyll and Bute HSCP chief officer Joanna Macdonald said: ‘It is distressing to see a significant number of our colleagues have experienced bullying and harassment and addressing the implications of this report will be a high priority.
‘We will work in close partnership with colleagues and stakeholders across all of the organisation to deliver the actions necessary to achieve a culture based upon dignity and respect for each other.’
Dawn MacDonald, UNISON Highland Health Care branch secretary, said the bullying ‘must stop’.
‘It is tragic that the very staff we clap for every Thursday to thank them for their unselfish caring for our loved ones have experienced bullying and harassment working for the NHS,’ she continued.
She added: ‘These results are not surprising. UNISON has been raising concerns internally and with the Scottish Government regarding behaviours within the HSCP, the management team and human resources department since October 2018.’ Councillor Anne Horn said she had previously been assured Argyll and Bute HSCP management acted to eliminate bullying, yet it is still happening.
‘Bullying is abuse and there is no excuse,’ Councillor Horn said.
‘This is totally unacceptable at any time,’ said Councillor Dougie Philand ‘but at a time when our staff are stressed working extremely hard to save lives in our communities, the perpetrators should be subject to immediate investigation.’
Councillor Sandy Taylor is a member of the Integration Joint Board (IJB), the group overseeing health and social care in Argyll and Bute.
He said: ‘I will challenge bullying whenever it comes to my attention and encourage every effort to replace that negative culture with one in which people are treated with respect.’