Whistleblowers and GMB union members welcome report into alleged bullying at NHS Highland
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WHISTLEBLOWERS whose claims of bullying sparked the Sturrock Review into staff treatment at NHS Highland say they have paid “a heavy price” for their actions.
Speaking after the report was published today, they welcomed developments and said they are “keen to support the new leadership of NHS Highland” as they attempt to move forward and act on its findings.
They added some of them has been “ostracised” by colleagues over their claims but that they hope for “a time of healing”.
Speaking in a joint statement with representatives of the GMB union, they said: “The whistleblowers and GMB representatives have not had advanced sight of the Sturrock report into the bullying within NHS Highland that was identified publicly as a real, deep rooted concern last September. We are still digesting the report and it is right we give it full and careful consideration. After that point, we will make further comment on it as soon as possible.
“Today we will restrict our comments to addressing the statement that has been made by Health Secretary, Jeane Freeman, in the Scottish Parliament a short while ago.
“When the whistleblowers first called for a review, many told us that there was no way this would happen. But it did. We therefore thank Ms Freeman for having the courage and honesty to commission the independent review. The Health Minister’s actions offer optimism in today’s political landscape.
“Today, Jeane Freeman has given an indication of how the Scottish Government intends to respond to the Sturrock review.
“She has identified a number of significant cultural issues reasonably described as bullying in NHS Highland.
“She is convening a Ministerially led short life Working Group, with representation from NHS Boards, Staff-side, the Royal Colleges, and the Professional and Regulatory bodies, to examine how they will collectively take forward measures that support open and honest workplace cultures.
“She also plans to write to all Health Boards in Scotland to consider the review and look again at the effectiveness of their own internal systems, leadership and governance.
“In addition she is committed to building a more open, honest and inclusive culture in NHS Scotland going forward.
“We endorse those remarks. Much has been said about the nature and degree of bullying within NHS Highland. What is already known is that many people within the organisation have been severely damaged by it; some even contemplated suicide.
“This harm occurred because people in senior leadership positions failed to carry out their responsibility to care for staff. Leaders shape the culture. Bullying continued within our organisation over a long period. That this could happen suggests there was an acceptance of this negative culture at the heart of NHS Highland – this clearly cannot be tolerated any longer. This approach was based on fear and intimidation over honesty and transparency.
“As the Sturrock report becomes more widely read and understood the whistleblowers are keen to support the new leadership of NHS Highland to move this organisation forward. As such, we would like to outline what we feel the necessary first steps are:
"1. The victims of bullying deserve a sincere and authentic apology from the Board of NHS Highland for the suffering that they have been put through - people were subjected to unacceptable behaviours as a result of simply turning up to their work and doing the best job they could. Each person who has been negatively affected should have the opportunity for individual psychological assessments to help diagnose and treat the harm they suffered. We believe just and fair recompense should be offered to them for the way that their careers have been affected and, in some cases, cut short.
"2. As whistleblowers we have paid a heavy price for having the courage to speak up. Some of us have been ostracised by our colleagues. We are aware that some staff remain angry at our actions in going public, perhaps not understanding that we had exhausted all of the internal routes open to us before we felt ethically obliged to make a public disclosure. Having acted in the public interest, we need and deserve to be protected. Any attempts to target us, or others who came forward to assist in the Sturrock review must not be tolerated. We call on the new Chief Executive and Chair of NHS Highland to make sure anyone who targets whistleblowers, is dealt with firmly, and for the Board to state this publicly.
"3. There needs to be a cultural change within the entire organisation. There must be a zero tolerance approach to bullying and to bystanding of bullying. Bystanders know bullying is going on but do nothing to stop it. In that sense they offer tacit support to the bullies. Bystanders enable bullying to persist.
"4. We believe that there has been an extraordinary breakdown of Staff Governance in NHS Highland. If this was a clinical or financial governance issue, action would have been taken a long time ago. Do staff matter less? We believe that all of the Board’s Directors need to consider whether their lack of action has been consistent with their position and responsibilities. The same goes for others in leadership roles, some of whom have already resigned. We believe that there are others who should have their positions reviewed.
"5. Staffside - the collective union voice - has failed to offer an effective check and balance to the Board’s inaction on bullying. This is also a staff governance issue.
"6. As clinicians we have regulatory bodies to ensure that we are fit to practice, yet Health Service Directors and Managers do not. This is long overdue and is something that the Government should seriously consider.
"7. We look forward to a time of healing. But, we need to be confident that this won’t happen again. Moving on from the failures of the past, NHS Highland must appoint competent and effective Executive and Non-Executive Directors. We need leaders who will deliver a learning and supportive culture. Lessons must be learned to safeguard staff, so they can safely serve their patients.”
