New Year, New Bart's? January 2014 Update.

Here’s the latest update on The Bart’s Health Trust. There is good in the report at last – progress made.

There have been a number of themes in this Blog and its sister over the last year;

1) That there are many indicators of problems in a hospital, one of which is the ‘Never Happen Events’, of which Barts Health had a record number.

2) There is an appalling level of bullying in the NHS and the wider medical profession; of subordinates, women and ethnic minorities which is wrong and outdated.

3) From my experience in a different profession bullying is a useful cover for the dishonest and the incompetent – fearful or intimidated staff are less likely to expose failing colleagues. Bullies are also very unlikely to learn from others.

4) I don’t have proper evidence but in the light of 3) I believe there is a correlation between bullying and low morale and failing hospitals.

Staff at Barts trust living in fear of bullying

 

Ross Lydall, Health Editor

London Evening Standard

 

Published: 14 January 2014

 

Low staff morale and a fear of bullying were today highlighted at London’s biggest NHS trust after a visit by hospital inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission said it was approached by “too many members of staff” about bullying at Barts Health. An internal survey found one in three staff were bullied.

 

Patients using the trust’s six hospitals, which include the Royal London, St Bartholomew’s and Newham, were “at risk of harm” due to equipment not always being “readily available”.

 

However the CQC lifted three warning notices placed on Whipps Cross hospital last June after an earlier inspection had found major concerns in its maternity and older people’s wards.

 

It said the trust, which serves 2.5 million people in east London, provided generally “safe” services but highlighted concerns about staffing levels. It ordered improvements in 15 areas.

 

Professor Sir Mike Richards, CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, said: “We found that Barts Health NHS Trust was, in the main, providing services that were safe.

My team identified a number of areas of good practice and the majority of patients we met were complimentary about the way they had been treated by staff.

 

“On a more negative note, we found that staff morale was low. Too many members of staff of all levels and across all sites came to us to express their concerns about being bullied, and many only agreed to speak to us in confidence.

 

“The trust needs to take action to make sure people feel confident to speak up.”

 

The trust, formed in April 2012 by merging three hospital groups, is axeing more than 200 nursing and managerial posts and downgrading 460 further nursing posts.

 

It had been targeted because of poor outcomes for cancer patients, delays in accident and emergency, financial troubles and a high number of “never events” — clinical blunders that should never happen, such as swabs being left inside patients.

 

Inspectors were informed that, because some staff spoke limited English, communication was difficult and could place patients at risk.

 

A healthcare assistant at the Royal London was asked to contact an anaesthetist in an emergency but did not do so because they did not understand the term.

 

Barts said the report was “tough but fair”. The trust said in a statement: “It recognises our challenges, where we have made progress, some of our areas of good practice, and confirms the care, commitment and compassion of our staff.

 

“We are reaffirming very strongly that bullying has no place at Barts Health, and staff are strongly encouraged to raise any concerns they have about their workplace or the care provided to our patients.”

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home: helpmesortoutthenhs.blogspot.com

Contact: neilwithpromisestokeep@gmail.com