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bullying in the NHS and the wider medical profession; of subordinates, women and ethnic minorities which is wrong and outdated.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
 

News update.

Here’s a news roundup;

Stafford General Hospital

This was the main hospital in a trust which saw a great many unnecessary deaths (600 to 1200).

No Doctor’s were disciplined and only a handful of nurses – no managers at all.

The trust went bankrupt and went into administration under the control of a liquidater. There have been a lot of protests – patients and staff were due to be punished twice over – first the abuse and deaths and then the loss of the hospital.

Maturnity is saved although Paediatrics will be lost. People power (25000 on a march) had an effect. The hospital survives and will be given University Hospital status. In a way it’s a happy ending although the local MP is rightly saying the struggle isn’t over yet.

 

Meanwhile;

Colchester General Hospital…

….had a climate of bullying which meant that staff were forced into forging cancer statistics to make it look as though targets were being met when they weren’t.

Today, ‘By mutual consent’, the Chief executive has resigned. Police are investigating.

What payoff was given to ease the pain?

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home; helpmesortoutthenhs.blogspot.com

If you are alone and frightened, get together and get strong.

This came from ‘Practise Manager’, but seems based on a press release from the GMC of The British Medical Association who paid for a very interesting survey.

The medical Profession seems to be based on the old British Public Schools mentality – “I had it so bad when I was your age, I’m going to make it really hard for you”.

As I have said so many times before:

1) The majority of NHS employees are women.

2) The majority of NHS employees are working class.

3) The majority of NHS employees are from ethnic minorities.

So how come it is so male, white and upper class?

Because of bullying.

And why are patients treated so badly – because they are frightened and intimidated.

GMC survey questioned 54,000 doctors in training about their views on the quality of their training

 

 

A survey of 54,000 doctors in training found that nearly one in five had witnessed someone being bullied in their current post, and more than one in four had experienced undermining behaviour themselves.

 

The findings of the General Medical Council survey also reveal that more than 2,000 doctors in training (5.2%) had raised a concern about patient safety in 2013 and 13.2% said they had experienced bullying at work.

 

Niall Dickson, chief executive of the GMC, said: “The survey provides us and employers with crucial information about the quality of the training environment, which is also where patients receive care and treatment.  These doctors are in an ideal position to alert us to potential problems and employers will also want to reflect on these results.

 

“Patient safety remains our top priority and all doctors irrespective of their seniority should feel supported in improving the standards of care for their patients.”

 

Dean Royles, chief executive of the NHS Employers organisation, said: “These are very insightful reports that get further into the detail of some key issues in medical care. We know doctors can work in stressful situations, especially when vacancies exist or demand for care rises, but everyone would recognise that it is unacceptable for this to spill over into bullying.

 

Dr Kitty Mohan, co-chair of the BMA’s Junior Doctors’ Committee added: “The GMC’s national trainee survey is an invaluable tool that helps assess the quality of junior doctor training throughout the UK..

 

“We must do more to combat any environment that allows bullying or harassment by encouraging NHS staff to share their concerns immediately. Junior doctors have a right to carry out their job in a workplace that is free from any form of intimidation.

 

“The BMA shares the GMC’s recommendations aimed at tackling the key patient safety challenges that were highlighted in the Francis report. To guarantee patient safety, we must establish a culture where the NHS actively listens to its workforce and acts upon any concerns raised.

 

 

 

“Building a new ethos of openness, transparency and mutual support amongst NHS staff is the key to guaranteeing patient safety and the wellbeing of all those who work in our health service.”

If you are alone and frightened, get together and get strong.

 

Neil Harris

(a don’t stop till you drop production)

Home:  helpmesortoutthenhs.blogspot.com