Its time to stop bullying in the NHS for the sake of patients

Its time to stop bullying in the NHS for the sake of patients Bullying whistleblowers has damaged staff health and cost employers sick pay and turnover

Bullying in the NHS is a serious problem. Robert Franciss 2010 report into the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal said an explanation for staffs reluctance to come forward with concerns was that they were scared, witnesses described an endemic culture of bullying, and the report provides graphic examples of the victimisation of those who did raise concerns.

The omission of bullying from the 290 recommendations in his 2013 report was a serious mistake that Robert Francis could remedy in his current independent review into whistleblowing in the NHS. Since 2010, NHS bullying has further increased. According to the NHS national staff survey, the proportion of staff reporting being bullied, harassed and abused by colleagues and managers rose from 14% in 2010 to 22% in 2013. Staff surveyed said under half of these cases were reported while the proportion of cases being reported fell from 54% in 2004 to 44% last year. Continue reading... The Guardian