...as bullying culture harms health board

A CULTURE of bullying and harassment has been uncovered at one of Scotland’s biggest health boards in a damning report.

The review also criticised NHS Lothian for not always prioritising patient safety.

And the board is accused of distorting waiting times figures for six years, casting doubt on data used to improve services.

The Academy of Medical Royal Colleges review was published yesterday, one of a number of negative stories released on the day of a major SNP Cabinet reshuffle.

It was ordered after a whistleblower raised concerns last year about the doctoring of waiting times to meet the four-hour target to process A&E patients. It then emerged hospitals across the board area were failing to record waiting time breaches properly.

Hospitals have to report how many A&E patients wait longer than four hours. But in some cases where patients waited longer than four hours, their details were recorded as being treated on time.

The report said: ‘Patient safety and quality of care is not always prioritised as it should be, particularly at times of high activity. There is clear evidence that breach recording was not in line with expected practice since 2012 and puts the validity of unscheduled care data into question for several years.’

Among a string of recommendations, the report recommended the board takes urgent action on bullying and harassment, improves governance, ensures a focus on patient care and develops a team approach to the four-hour standard with clear responsibilities. NHS Lothian has accepted all the recommendations.

Interim chief executive Jim Crombie said: ‘We have recognised from the outset that mistakes were made and accept the findings of this review. It’s clear not all was as it should have been. We are confident the measures we have already put in place have removed any ambiguity over the correct procedures.

Mr Crombie said he shared concerns about bullying behaviour, adding: ‘Plainly, we have not been doing enough to support our front line staff. We will ensure it is absolutely clear that NHS Lothian does not tolerate bullying behaviour.’ He also pledged a focus on patient safety.

The Scottish Government said: ‘We welcome the fact NHS Lothian takes full responsibility for the findings and has taken swift action to put immediate steps in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Bullying and harassment is not acceptable.’