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Bullying claims increase pressure on NHS chiefs Bullying claims increase pressure on NHS chiefs
(6 months later)
Two former executives from a hospital which is being investigated over high death rates have increased the pressure upon the head of the NHS and his deputy after telling MPs there is a culture of "sheer bullying" in the service which is threatening patient safety.Two former executives from a hospital which is being investigated over high death rates have increased the pressure upon the head of the NHS and his deputy after telling MPs there is a culture of "sheer bullying" in the service which is threatening patient safety.
Gary Walker, the former chief executive of United Lincolnshire hospitals trust, questioned Sir David Nicholson's attitude towards whistleblowers within the NHS when he appeared before the health select committee. He claimed that the new interim chief operating officer of the NHS, Barbara Hakin, may have authorised his own £225,000 pay-off to protect herself from allegations of a cover-up.Gary Walker, the former chief executive of United Lincolnshire hospitals trust, questioned Sir David Nicholson's attitude towards whistleblowers within the NHS when he appeared before the health select committee. He claimed that the new interim chief operating officer of the NHS, Barbara Hakin, may have authorised his own £225,000 pay-off to protect herself from allegations of a cover-up.
David Bowles, the former chairman of the Lincolnshire trust, placed a 2009 document before the committee which appeared to show that Hakin, then the chief executive of the local strategic health authority, sent a colleague a handwritten note saying: "Need to meet targets whatever the demand."David Bowles, the former chairman of the Lincolnshire trust, placed a 2009 document before the committee which appeared to show that Hakin, then the chief executive of the local strategic health authority, sent a colleague a handwritten note saying: "Need to meet targets whatever the demand."
Their claims will add to the pressure upon Nicholson, who appointed Hakin, and will raise further concerns about the ability of senior managers in the NHS to cut waiting lists and ensure patient safety. The Lincolnshire trust is one of 14 under investigation over high death rates.Their claims will add to the pressure upon Nicholson, who appointed Hakin, and will raise further concerns about the ability of senior managers in the NHS to cut waiting lists and ensure patient safety. The Lincolnshire trust is one of 14 under investigation over high death rates.
Walker was sacked for swearing but says that the real reason was because of a row over an 18-week non-emergency waiting list target. He was then asked to sign a gagging clause which has recently been lifted following a public outcry.Walker was sacked for swearing but says that the real reason was because of a row over an 18-week non-emergency waiting list target. He was then asked to sign a gagging clause which has recently been lifted following a public outcry.
He told MPs that he felt pressured by officials when he put the hospital on "red alert" because it was almost full to capacity.He told MPs that he felt pressured by officials when he put the hospital on "red alert" because it was almost full to capacity.
"The response from the health authority was, 'this is your problem – you need to meet the targets whatever the demand'."The response from the health authority was, 'this is your problem – you need to meet the targets whatever the demand'.
"It is a very dangerous thing to be trying to push through targets when hospitals are dangerously over full," he said."It is a very dangerous thing to be trying to push through targets when hospitals are dangerously over full," he said.
Walker said he was forced to quit after refusing to meet Whitehall targets for non-emergency patients and was gagged from speaking out as part of a settlement deal.Walker said he was forced to quit after refusing to meet Whitehall targets for non-emergency patients and was gagged from speaking out as part of a settlement deal.
In February 2009, Walker said he met Hakin, who was then the chief executive of the former East Midlands strategic health authority. He said: "Essentially certain threats were made to me like, 'if you don't deliver the targets then I won't be able to protect you'.In February 2009, Walker said he met Hakin, who was then the chief executive of the former East Midlands strategic health authority. He said: "Essentially certain threats were made to me like, 'if you don't deliver the targets then I won't be able to protect you'.
"In essence there was a lot of pressure to deliver the targets and this was going to reflect on me as an individual if we didn't meet those targets."In essence there was a lot of pressure to deliver the targets and this was going to reflect on me as an individual if we didn't meet those targets.
"At the same time I am asking for a capacity review, for help, and the situation escalated, when the hospital became more and more full more and more threats were made," he added."At the same time I am asking for a capacity review, for help, and the situation escalated, when the hospital became more and more full more and more threats were made," he added.
"I spoke with other [hospital] chief executives and many of them, but not all, concurred with my view of the health authority that they were only ever interested if you're going to suggest there is a problem anywhere, and they are very heavy-handed with how that problem is going to be resolved, so threats are made, people are told, 'you realise the consequences if this doesn't get done?' This isn't proper management, this is just sheer bullying.""I spoke with other [hospital] chief executives and many of them, but not all, concurred with my view of the health authority that they were only ever interested if you're going to suggest there is a problem anywhere, and they are very heavy-handed with how that problem is going to be resolved, so threats are made, people are told, 'you realise the consequences if this doesn't get done?' This isn't proper management, this is just sheer bullying."
Walker also claimed that Nicholson had misled the public accounts committee in evidence to the committee on Monday when he had alleged that Walker had failed to identify himself as a whistleblower.Walker also claimed that Nicholson had misled the public accounts committee in evidence to the committee on Monday when he had alleged that Walker had failed to identify himself as a whistleblower.
Following Walker's evidence, Nicholson was forced to correct his comments to the committee.Following Walker's evidence, Nicholson was forced to correct his comments to the committee.
Before the committee, Walker also claimed that Hakin may have authorised his pay off to protect herself.Before the committee, Walker also claimed that Hakin may have authorised his pay off to protect herself.
He said: "If it is the case that Barbara Hakin is responsible for that payment that is a very serious charge, potentially of misconduct, on the basis that you can't use public money to silence matters of your own misconduct."He said: "If it is the case that Barbara Hakin is responsible for that payment that is a very serious charge, potentially of misconduct, on the basis that you can't use public money to silence matters of your own misconduct."
Bowles, who also left the trust in 2009, said the SHA deliberately hid financial troubles at the trust from senior Department of Health officials.Bowles, who also left the trust in 2009, said the SHA deliberately hid financial troubles at the trust from senior Department of Health officials.
"When I raised it with my director of finance, I was told we were not on that schedule because this trust is not to receive a cash adjustment because the SHA did not wish to identify any trusts in the East Midlands as being financially challenged," he said."When I raised it with my director of finance, I was told we were not on that schedule because this trust is not to receive a cash adjustment because the SHA did not wish to identify any trusts in the East Midlands as being financially challenged," he said.
Bowles also submitted an email as evidence to the committee which he claimed had been written by Hakin. The note was written on top of an email sent in April 2009 by Hakin to Avril Johns, the director of system development at the health authority.Bowles also submitted an email as evidence to the committee which he claimed had been written by Hakin. The note was written on top of an email sent in April 2009 by Hakin to Avril Johns, the director of system development at the health authority.
Hakin allegedly wrote: "Main things about DB objectives that worry me: 1 Need to meet targets whatever demand". The note was signed "B". Bowles said the note was submitted as evidence as part of his own tribunal against the authority, and it had not been questioned by Hakin.Hakin allegedly wrote: "Main things about DB objectives that worry me: 1 Need to meet targets whatever demand". The note was signed "B". Bowles said the note was submitted as evidence as part of his own tribunal against the authority, and it had not been questioned by Hakin.
A spokesman for the East Midlands strategic health authority (SHA), now part of NHS Midlands and East, said that Walker had not raised "genuine concerns" that would constitute his designation as a whistleblower.A spokesman for the East Midlands strategic health authority (SHA), now part of NHS Midlands and East, said that Walker had not raised "genuine concerns" that would constitute his designation as a whistleblower.
"Now that the compromise agreement between Mr Walker and his employers, which referred to his employment status and his dismissal, has been set aside the SHA is in a position to put its view of events into the public domain which it has not been able to do before.""Now that the compromise agreement between Mr Walker and his employers, which referred to his employment status and his dismissal, has been set aside the SHA is in a position to put its view of events into the public domain which it has not been able to do before."
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