THE latest programme in BBC Radio 4’s series File on 4 was disturbing. Two years after the first independent report into the treatment of NHS whistleblowers was published, the programme investigated whether those raising concerns about patient safety were properly protected.
It found that doctors who had spoken up since “say they’ve faced the same catalogue of bullying and abuse by their employers” and in some cases, the focus remained on protecting reputations rather than addressing poor care.
Change takes time. Eleven years ago David Tierney, a senior official in NHS Western Isles, tried to blow the whistle on mismanagement and bullying and was sacked. His disclosures headed “in strict confidence” had been passed to the board. The then Scottish Executive refused to hold an inquiry, insisting issues be dealt with locally despite a 90-page dossier with statements from 12 witnesses. Seven months later a management team was sent to run the board.
The Western Isles did not feature in the programme but Dr Jane Hamilton did. Herald readers may remember her story. We revealed how the consultant perinatal psychiatrist believed her career in Scotland had been ruined after she raised concerns seven years ago about the mother and baby unit at St John’s Hospital in Livingston and warned in writing that patients could die.
Two women who had been patients subsequently took their own lives. Another mother being treated there suffocated her nine-month-old daughter while suffering from severe depression. A subsequent investigation by the Mental Welfare Commission found that multiple chances to help the mother and daughter were missed.
There were other critical incidents. Dr Hamilton, the only perinatal specialist in the unit, claimed she was victimised after raising her concerns and refused to sign a severance agreement with NHS Lothian after her lawyer advised it would gag her.
She has settled with the health board. She departed “ungagged” and convinced that a genuinely independent inquiry into the failings she identified was still desperately needed. Now she is only able to find work south of the Border, apparently blacklisted in Scotland.
While working on the story in 2014, we found some senior figures in the NHS happy to hint that we should not believe everything Dr Hamilton said; that she had “history”. These were smears.
Meanwhile others, despite fearing for their jobs, said they had tried to support Dr Hamilton but those investigating “just didn’t want to know”.
NHS Scotland chief executive Paul Gray, who recently met Dr Hamilton, told File on 4: “We have asked Dr Hamilton if she would be willing to help us with advancing our understanding of the issues faced by whistleblowers and, of course, if she is willing to do that, we will be very pleased.”
She could start by raising the issue of those who had demonstrably traduced her, and whether they still sit without censure in senior positions. If so, how can anyone believe whistleblowers are yet adequately protected?
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