Trust told to root out bullying

12 Jan 06
The Healthcare Commission this week called on a trust to eradicate bullying and harassment of its 5,000 staff.

13 January 2006

The Healthcare Commission this week called on a trust to eradicate bullying and harassment of its 5,000 staff.

The commission investigated East Sussex Hospitals Trust after concerns were raised by staff and a local GP. It found that the staff perception of the levels of bullying and harassment was high, although it found no evidence that incidents were higher than in trusts of a similar size.

The commission criticised the trust's managers for failing to discover why staff perceived bullying to be greater than it was, and said staff felt discouraged from submitting formal grievances.

Marcia Fry, the commission's head of operational development, said the trust had begun to improve its culture. 'There is a message here for the NHS — neither bullying and harassment of staff nor the perception of it can be tolerated.'

The trust could learn from Devon Partnerships Trust, which has made progress in tackling its bullying problem, the commission found. Complaints there fell from 33% of staff in 2003 to 10% in 2005.

PFjan2006

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