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Review finds toxic environment and bullying at major NHS trust
A review into one of England’s largest NHS trusts has revealed repeated cases of bullying and a toxic working environment. The report cites anger among senior staff that they did not attend the funeral of Vaish Kumar, a junior doctor who killed herself, in June of last year. The West Midlands trust, which operates Queen Elizabeth (QE), Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals, has said it fully accepts the recommendations set out in the report.
The review, which is the first phase of a rapid investigation and was carried out by IQ4U and led by former NHS England deputy medical director, Prof Mike Bewick, uncovered concerns over clinical safety at the trust, which it said required serious attention. The shortage of nursing staff at Good Hope Hospital was also highlighted.
Senior management’s reaction following Dr Kumar’s death was also called into question. While her funeral was live-streamed for staff, a senior member of staff was unaware of Dr Kumar’s death and emailed her personally 26 days later to ask why she had been removed from her post and if she was still being paid.
The report makes four recommendations, which focus on improving clinical safety, governance and leadership, staff welfare and culture.
Trust welcomes recommendations, but calls for further work
Although the trust was deemed a “safe place to receive care”, Prof Bewick called for a shift in organisational culture to ensure the interests of staff were adequately cared for. While Jonathan Brotherton, the trust’s current chief executive, said the report made for “difficult reading”, he welcomed its recommendations, adding that they had already begun to address the concerns raised.
The trust’s current difficulties were highlighted by Edgbaston Labour MP Preet Gill, who is leading a cross-party reference group supporting the review. She called for greater transparency and transformational change to be implemented quickly. The second and third reviews on governance and culture at the trust are due to be published by June.
