Health board urged to end ‘culture of bullying’
Politicians last night called on a health board to end a “long-standing bullying culture” brought to light by senior clinicians who claim that it is damaging patient care.
Staff at NHS Highland have highlighted what they insist are “serious concerns”, accusing bosses of suppressing criticism and creating a “culture of fear and intimidation”.
Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesman Alex Colehamilton, MSP, said there is no space in the Scottish health service for a “poisonous culture” of bullying that is having an impact on patient health.
His views were echoed by the British Medical Association (Scotland), which described the latest reports as a further source of concern and called for more to be done to address bullying across the NHS in Scotland.
The doctors claim that the problems have been going on for at “least a decade”, adding that this had a “serious detrimental effect on staff” as well an adverse effect on patients.
The group raised their concerns in a letter to a newspaper, insisting: “It is vital this bullying culture is exposed and finally now dealt with.”
The doctors spoke out a week after allegations of “systematic bullying” at NHS Tayside were raised at Holyrood, with Labour health spokesman Anas Sarwar telling MSPS about the suicide of one trainee doctor as a result.
The doctors who signed the letter are Eileen Anderson, chairwoman of the area medical committee, its vice-chairwoman, Lorien Cameronross, Jonathan Ball, chairman of the GP sub-committee, and Highland local medical committee chairman, and Iain Kennedy of the GP sub-committee.
Scottish Conservative MSP for the Highlands and Islands Edward Mountain said: “Ever since I have been elected to the parliament I have met with doctors and nurses who have been voicing real concerns about the management culture in NHS Highland.”
Mr Cole-hamilton said: “These claims are extremely serious.
“Our hard-working NHS staff are up against it all the time trying to deliver first rate care against a backdrop of diminished pay, workforce planning failings and problems with social care, which stop patients leaving hospital on time.
“Nothing should get in the way of their stellar work. These complaints must be the subject of an exhaustive investigation.”