Fife health workers told to report any contact with the press

WHISTLEBLOWERS: Health board clamps down on leaks

A health board has been forced to clamp down on leaks following claims maternity drugs were tampered with.

NHS Fife demanded all staff members tell their line manager of any contact with the press after The Courier revealed three workers have been suspended over the allegations, with one appearing in court.

With concerned whistleblowers providing some of the details surrounding the investigations into how a midwife from Kirkcaldy’s Victoria Hospital ended up facing charges of reckless endangerment and theft, senior management tried to clamp down on leaks.

It is understood staff were told not to reveal any confidential information.

The claims focus on powerful painkillers that are said to have been removed from bags used to administer epidurals to women in labour.

Sources say concerns were first raised about the staff member around three months ago.

Calls have been made for an immediate investigation in a bid to instil confidence in the scores of women who may have been given epidurals using the affected bags.

Donald Cameron, Conservative health spokesman, said NHS Fife’s approach was “deeply wrong-headed” by health bosses “who appear to be more worried about their own reputation than they are about reassuring patients”.

He added: “Patients deserve better than a cover-up. They need the facts so people can have confidence in their treatment.”

Labour’s health spokesperson Anas Sarwar said: “Rather than urging staff to keep quiet, health chiefs should be urging workers to anonymously come forward with information.”

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said: “It is disappointing that an early instinct from NHS Fife management is to shoot the messenger.

“This person clearly felt frustrated by the handling of this very important matter and believed it necessary to make this public.”

Mark Ruskell, the Green MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, said: “We need assurance that hospital managers are not being heavy-handed in their approach to staff who wish to raise legitimate concerns.”

An NHS Fife spokesperson said: “Following complaints from staff that they had been phoned at home by reporters, we advised staff to refer any media inquiries to the communications department. This is in line with our standard policy and in common with any large organisation.

“It is particularly important when reporters are seeking comment on a live legal case that care is taken not to prejudice or compromise a case.

“Our staff do a valuable and important job and are entitled to be able to focus on the quality of care they give our patients.

“As registered practitioners they are also required to adhere to professional codes of conduct”.