We need a cure for NHS failings
Claims he called another officer ‘a wee lassie’
DELAYS to the opening of the new flagship children’s hospital are disappointing to say the least.
Edinburgh’s Sick Kids’ Hospital will now not be fully open until next autumn – more than a year late.
The costly delay means families whose young ones need the best of treatment will potentially miss out.
It all adds to the lengthening list of negatives for the SNP administration – including the NHS Tayside fiasco, hospital hygiene issues and the struggle to control rising waiting times.
No one person is culpable so it would smack of political opportunism if Health Secretary Jeane Freeman was blamed for recent failings.
Ironically, one of the significant problems with the new Edinburgh hospital is with its ventilation system.
There has been far too much hot air expelled when the Scottish Government is confronted with NHS problems.
But our politicians and the managers of our health service should reflect on these and other failings and ask – is it good enough? We don’t think so.
A FIREARMS officer is suing Police Scotland for sexual discrimination after being told she shouldn’t be on duty without a man.
PC Rhona Malone fell victim to “institutional sexism” in its firearms unit, an employment tribunal heard yesterday.
The 43-year-old – who still serves with the force – was sent an email by Inspector Keith Warhurst saying she should always partner with a male colleague due to “obvious differences in physical capacity”.
Warhurst also allegedly referred to another female officer as a “wee lassie”.
Malone took the force to an employment tribunal after suffering a string of alleged examples of sex discrimination. The impact of the ordeal has forced her to seek early retirement on the grounds of ill-health.
Her lawyer Margaret Gribbon told the hearing in Edinburgh that her client had endured behaviour “designed to get her to take flight from the firearms unit”. The unit itself, she added, had a “sexist culture”.
Police Scotland could face a six-figure payout if it loses the case.
Malone, a mum-of-three from West Lothian, has been a serving officer for 10 years, and has been in the firearms section for three. She went through intensive training for the armed role and is based at Fettes in Edinburgh.
Last January, an email was sent to officers, including Malone, from Warhurst.
It read: “I’m going to plunge in with both feet and open myself up to being accused of being sexist. For operational reasons, I don’t want to see 2 x female officers deployed together when there are sufficient male staff on duty.
“This is based on my experience in the firearms and routine policing environment, other than the obvious differences in physical capacity, it makes more sense from a search, balance of testosterone perspective. It is not a reflection on either Rhona or ***** . If you want to discuss, my door is open.”
The message added: “Ladies. For the purpose of transparency, I have included you in this email.”
Gribbon said it was a “blatant and overtly discriminatory” email from someone who “ought to know better”.
The tribunal was told Malone complained to a superior, Chief Inspector Linda Russell, who attempted to “play down” the email. Malone alleged that Russell, who has now retired, had “simply rolled her eyes”.
Gribbon said her client raised a formal grievance which “resulted in even more discriminatory behaviour which was insidious and designed to make her take flight” from her current role.
On another occasion, the tribunal heard, Warhurst referred to a female inspector as a “wee lassie”.
Gribbon claimed there was an “institutional sexist attitude towards female firearms officers which resulted in them being set up to fail, particularly if they questioned the current practices of the unit”.
A police spokeswoman said last night: “Due to ongoing legal proceedings, we are unable to comment.”
A final hearing will take place in January.