Health Secretary Jeane Freeman confirms Scottish Government will provide funding to compensate victims of NHS Highland bullying
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The health secretary has confirmed the government will bail out NHS Highland over bullying claims after a question by MSP David Stewart.
Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart lodged a parliamentary question asking what funding the government had agreed to give NHS Highland for the "healing" process and the investigation of allegations of bullying and harassment of staff previously employed by the health board.
Ms Freeman replied: "The Scottish Government will provide NHS Highland with additional financial support to assist with the delivery of the healing process and discussions are ongoing regarding the level of financial support involved."
Mr Stewart said he has been contacted by many former and current NHS Highland staff concerned about their treatment, but also about the delay in getting a system set up to deal with their cases.
"It is positive that the health secretary has stepped in and I wait to see how much money is going to be transferred," he said.
"I am hopeful this funding will provide compensation and also psychological support for the people who have contacted me and that the system will be independent.
"I know there are former employees who’ve lost or left their jobs and, in some cases, had their careers ruined and will be unable to go to an industrial tribunal due to a time-bar on cases and will be unable to afford a civil case. This move by the government will hopefully prove the way forward."
He added: "There is still a gap in letting people know what’s happening, especially after such a delay, and I’ve been told that for many this is affecting their health and wellbeing.”
Mr Stewart said he has been told by the health authority that it recently had "very positive discussions" with the Scottish Government to help with the resources needed to ensure the process is able to cope with what is submitted.
He believes the system will be fully scoped and designed and with a plan in place in the next few weeks before it is up and running and dealing with cases by mid-April.
Previously, in reply to a parliamentary question lodged in November last year, the Scottish Government said it had not been asked for funding by NHS Highland in order to set up a compensation scheme for former victims of bullying and harassment.
