The Royal College of Surgeons has released a scathing review accusing hospital leaders of creating a “culture of fear” and engaging in “bullying” behavior as police investigate multiple deaths.
The evaluation centered around issues regarding the well-being of patients and dysfunctional procedures in the general surgery units at the Royal Sussex County hospital in Brighton and the Princess Royal hospital in nearby Haywards Heath.
However, the evaluators were greatly concerned by allegations of harassment, intimidation, and mistreatment towards whistleblowers, leading them to recommend the replacement of executives at University Hospitals Sussex trust.
The authors suggested that the current executive leadership team should be evaluated for their suitability, professionalism, and effectiveness, in light of the troubling reports of bullying.
Sussex police are currently looking into accusations of medical malpractice and concealment in the general surgery and neurosurgery departments. This involves over 100 patients, including at least 40 fatalities, from the years 2015 to 2021.
Krishna Singh, a general surgeon, and Mansoor Foroughi, a neurosurgeon, raised concerns about patient safety and lost their jobs at the trust. This prompted an investigation.
The results of the evaluation, carried out in the past year and released in the board documents of the organization, indicate ongoing issues at the hospital that extend beyond the investigation period. This will likely heighten the worries of whistleblowers regarding the safety of care at the trust.
The reviewers expressed significant worry regarding the fear-based atmosphere among staff towards the executive leadership team. They also noted troubling reports of bullying from members of the team, including instances of aggressive meetings with individual consultant surgeons, where they were instructed to be silent and listen.
The evaluation discovered that employees were “intimidated” and hesitant to speak up about their concerns due to the possibility of facing repercussions. It suggested providing assistance for whistleblowers to create a sense of psychological safety when raising concerns.
According to the review, employees expressed their hesitancy to document any concerns because they were afraid of facing retaliation, being reported to regulatory authorities, or losing their job. They had heard of similar situations happening to their co-workers.
Some people claimed that a “culture of fear” was present among certain chief executives. It was reported that their strategy was to target and fire individuals in the department who voiced their opinions.
The former health secretary Jeremy Hunt commended the current chief executive, George Findlay, and his predecessor, Marianne Griffiths, who retired in 2022, for creating “the most exceptional learning environment I have witnessed in the NHS.”
The investigation received information about instances of harassment within the surgical department, such as two trainees being physically attacked by a consultant surgeon during an operation. It urged the trust to resolve any strained relationships within the department in order to promote harmony.
The report expressed multiple worries regarding patient welfare, such as frequent cancellations and lengthy wait times that could potentially pose a risk.
Cancellations were frequently observed on the day of surgery, often after patients had endured a wait of up to seven hours. During this time, patients had made necessary preparations for the surgery, such as abstaining from food and drink.
The rate of urgent admissions for individuals with colorectal cancer was 54%, significantly exceeding the country’s average of 20%. The mortality rates for abdominal surgery were also above the national average, creating a potential risk to patient well-being.
The reviewers expressed concern over a large number of grievances from patients, with 45 unresolved complaints during the review. However, they acknowledged that the trust had made progress in addressing previous mistakes and found that the staff were highly involved, forthcoming, and supportive.
The trust was asked for a statement. Findlay told BBC South East that the report was difficult to read.
However, he stated that the trust had made considerable efforts to ensure that employees feel comfortable bringing up concerns. He further expressed the importance of moving forward and continuing to implement improvements for the well-being of both staff and patients.
Source: theguardian.com
