Misuse of Suspensions/Sources

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Misuse of suspensions

Six years ago I launched a campaign in this column on behalf of Pat Cooksley, a ward sister at Derriford Hospital in my home city of Plymouth. Pat was suspended for "gross misconduct" - rewriting a drugs prescription sheet for a seriously ill patient. The doctor who should have signed it had forgotten to do so. Paul Foot in Guardian 27 June 2000
The cost of whistleblowing. Even in the new culture of openness that employees are told now exists, blowing the whistle on wrongdoing can often mean suspension and blighted career prospects, writes Maggie Murray. Blowing the whistle on a colleague or raising awareness of bad practice takes courage, even in the new culture of openness that employees are told now exists. For the individual who decides to challenge the status quo, the implications of the decision to highlight wrongdoing may mean, at best, a period of stressful suspension, and, at worst, blighted career prospects. Last year, Sian Caiach, a consultant orthopaedic surgeon, raised concerns that a fellow doctor at the Prince Philip hospital in Llanelli was using NHS time and resources to treat private patients. An audit commission investigation substantiated some of her claims and found that the hospital was subsidising private patients and had lost income of £7,500. Since that time, Ms Caiach has not worked and has been on what is described as extended maternity leave for almost eight months. She is also the subject of an investigation by the Royal College of Surgeons after allegations were made about her clinical practice. Guardian Society Thursday March 22, 2001
A surgeon who raised concerns about the standards of a colleague has been reinstated after being suspended for nearly two years. Alban Barros D'Sa was suspended in October 1999 after expressing worries about the quality of bowel surgery at Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry. BBC 6 July 2001
Hospital consultants have rejected plans for a vote of no confidence in managers over their handling of a whistle-blower. Doctors at Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, rejected the proposals by two to one during a vote on Thursday evening. BBC Friday, 3 August, 2001
Sexual abuse doctor still on NHS salary. Martin Wainwright Guardian Tuesday March 12, 2002
ONCE controversial surgeon Alban Barros D'Sa is retiring from St. Cross Hospital and Walsgrave after 24 years. Rugby Advertiser 30 October 2002
SUPPORTERS of a whistle-blowing surgeon suspended from Walsgrave Hospital say a decision on his future is expected before Christmas. And campaigners hope a well-attended meeting of the Dr. Raj Mattu Reinstatement Committee in Coventry on Friday October 4 at 7pm in the Allesley Hotel, Birmingham Road, increases the pressure on hospital bosses. Rugby Advertiser 16 October 2002
One of Britain's most famous teaching hospitals is in a state of unprecedented crisis and riven by internal quarrels due to government pressure to modernise, a Guardian investigation has discovered. A number of doctors and administrators at St George's in London have been suspended or sacked by the trust board after alleging mismanagement as the hospital struggles to achieve government "star" ratings. Sarah Hall Saturday April 19, 2003 The Guardian
Staff tell of cutbacks, quarrels and cover-ups. Sarah Hall Saturday April 19, 2003 The Guardian
Jittery NHS managers are wasting £14m a year suspending doctors and nurses on full pay because of allegations of professional malpractice made against them, parliament's spending watchdog warns today. John Carvel, social affairs editor Thursday November 6, 2003 The Guardian
National Audit Office report (59 pages) published November 6, 2003
New guidelines to tackle unnecessary and lengthy suspensions of doctors were published today after auditors found that "gardening leave" was costing the NHS £14m a year. Monday December 29, 2003
One of the north's leading hospitals is facing the prospect of a fast-track inquiry by government watchdogs after a series of medical and financial problems. Martin Wainwright Tuesday January 6, 2004 The Guardian
A consultant gynaecologist who was suspended from a leading teaching hospital after protesting about staff shortages and the promotion of a doctor involved in an embryo mix-up has been reinstated, it emerged yesterday. Rebecca Allison Friday January 23, 2004 The Guardian
NHS trust reinstates crouton surgeon. John Carvel, social affairs editor Thursday March 25, 2004 The Guardian
The NHS wastes millions of pounds a year by delaying investigation of doctors and nurses who have been suspended on full pay, the Commons' public accounts committee said yesterday. It found 30 cases of doctors excluded from work for more than two years before their NHS trust decided whether they were fit to practise. Those who were exonerated suffered from depression, erosion of skills and lasting career problems. Consultants from minority ethnic groups were disproportionately affected because they accounted for one fifth of the workforce, but more than one third of suspensions lasting over six months, the MPs said. John Carvel, social affairs editor Tuesday November 16, 2004 The Guardian
The government today announced measures designed to speed up disciplinary procedures in the NHS and cut the cost of long and drawn-out staff suspensions. David Crouch Thursday February 17, 2005
Disciplinary procedures for doctors and dentists in the NHS are to be speeded up in an attempt to cut the £40m-a-year cost of the process. Most disputes should be resolved within 13 weeks under a scheme to take effect in June. It would replace local procedures used by many NHS trusts. James Meikle Friday February 18, 2005 The Guardian
Surgeon supporters lobbying trust. Campaigners for the reinstatement of a heart surgeon are to demonstrate at the hospital from where he has been suspended for four years. Raj Mattu was suspended on full pay from Walsgrave Hospital in Coventry in 2002 amid allegations of bullying. A panel ruling that he get a written warning, has not resolved the issue. The hospital says by law it must hold another hearing, which cannot go ahead until High Court action by Dr Mattu is concluded. The protest is on Wednesday. Dr Mattu had complained over the practise of putting five patients into bays designed for four beds. BBC 31 May 2006
Specialist must pay trust's costs. A doctor who failed to win an injunction against possible dismissal by a hospital trust must now pay up to £60,000 in court costs. Doctor Raj Mattu was suspended in 2002 over an allegation of harassment. He lost the injunction at the High Court on Friday and now must pay two thirds of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust's costs. But a spokesman for a group supporting the doctor said the specialist should be reinstated. The ruling follows the trust "substantially" winning the case. The trust estimates its legal costs in the case to be at least £90,000 leaving a bill of £60,000 for Dr Mattu. BBC 25 July 2006
Nurse suspended 'for speaking out'. A senior nurse suspended after organising industrial action has accused health bosses of trying to curb her union activities. Karen Reissmann, a community psychiatric nurse for 25 years, was suspended by Manchester Mental Health and Social Care Trust (MMHSCT) for bringing its reputation into disrepute. The trust said it had lost confidence in Ms Reissmann . . . on the day she received a letter confirming her promotion to senior psychiatric nurse following a staff review. Ms Reissmann, Unison branch representative for MMHSCT, organised a series of protests by 250 staff against planned cuts, including two one-day strikes. Unison has held an emergency meeting and 100 staff voted for a ballot on strike action over Ms Reissmann's suspension. Ms Reissmann said: "What I'm guilty of is defending the NHS and its services for staff and patients and I cannot stop doing it. I believe in the NHS, that's why I want to work for it. What I'm not guilty of is harming a single patient in the process. I'm disgusted that in 2007 under a Labour government I'm facing disciplinary action and suspension for trade union activities and speaking out." Ms Reissmann has been told she is facing charges of activities seriously affecting the reputation of the care trust; behaviour undermining their confidence in her as an employee; and suspected of misusing her time as a community psychiatric nurse. She has been particularly critical of the transfer of NHS services to the voluntary sector, and is facing legal action over her comments published in a social enterprise magazine. A spokesman for MMHSCT refused to respond to claims they were trying to clamp down on union work. As well as the strike, Unison organised 100 staff to drive through city centre streets to protest at proposals to cut 33 community nurses and eight occupational therapists from MMHSCT, while increasing the number of managers. Summary by Keep our NHS Public of Manchester Evening News 19 June 2007
Top NHS officials receive huge pay offs after suspension. Two NHS officials at the National Patient Safety agency have received almost £500,000 in early retirement. Sue Osborn and Susan Williams have co-run the National Patient Safety agency since 2001. They received their retirement pay in addition to eight months' pay while on "gardening leave". The agency was given responsibility for fighting MRSA, but came under pressure in July 2006 when the Commons public accounts committee said the agency was "dysfunctional" because it had no idea how many patients died each year as a result of medical error. While on suspension from July 2006 to March 2007, the "two Sues" received £138,610, and their retirement package is now worth £456,984. Their interim replacement cost at least £78,419, say the Liberal Democrats, who requested release of the figures at parliamentary questions. Norman Lamb, the Lib Dem health spokesman, said: "This is a slap in the face for the many hard-working NHS employees who have seen posts cut and training budgets slashed. There needs to be total clarity about the circumstances of their absence from work and the decision to award early retirement. This looks like a scandalous use of public money and it is particularly outrageous at a time when local health services have been cut in many parts of the country in order to clear deficits." Summary by Keep our NHS Public of Doctors.net 2 July 2007
Suspension lifted on heart doctor. A heart specialist who has been suspended from work since 2002 has been allowed to return to work. Dr Raj Mattu was suspended from the former Walsgrave Hospital, in Coventry, after a junior doctor alleged he had harassed him. Dr Mattu claimed he was being punished for speaking out publicly about conditions for patients in the hospital's wards. The NHS trust which runs the hospital has always denied Dr Mattu's claim. A review in 2004 cleared University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire NHS Trust of responsibility for any deaths in relation to overcrowding. BBC 30 July 2007
Three suspended in ambulance row. Three West Midlands Ambulance Service staff in Shropshire have been suspended over information passed to the BBC. The service said it was investigating a possible breach of the Data Protection Act after control room logs were shown to journalists at BBC Radio Shropshire. It comes amid concerns over plans to close the ambulance control room in Shrewsbury and instead have two centres in Stafford and the Black Country. Some staff believe that such a move would put lives at risk. Control logs seen by BBC staff apparently showed ambulances were sent from Shropshire to help in Birmingham and the Black Country, reducing the number of emergency vehicles available in the county. Ambulance bosses have written to the BBC asking reporters to reveal the source of the documents passed to the corporation. The suspended members of staff have been told that if allegations against them prove to be true they would be guilty of gross misconduct. BBC 31 July 2007
Ambulance suspensions criticised. An MP has given his backing to three ambulance staff suspended after information was passed to the BBC. Control room logs suggested ambulances from Shropshire were being sent to help in Birmingham and the Black Country. Three staff were then suspended by West Midlands Ambulance Service as part of an investigation into a possible breech of the Data Protection Act. Daniel Kawczinsky, MP for Shrewsbury and Atcham, said he was worried staff were being "intimidated". It comes amid concerns over plans to close the ambulance control room in Shrewsbury and instead have two centres in Stafford and the Black Country. He said: "These issues are of fundamental importance to my constituents and the people of Shropshire and they should be aired. I personally am deeply concerned that people are being intimidated in this way. It is absolutely scandalous. I don't want to live in a society where people who provide frontline services to my constituents [and] who have genuine concerns or fears about safety issues cannot and... are not allowed to speak out. That's not a democratic society and that's why I will fight tooth and nail for their right to do this." He said he was writing to Health Secretary Alan Johnson about his concerns. West Midlands Ambulance Service has said it was concerned that patient confidentiality had been broken by the leak but has refused to comment further until an investigation is completed. It has written to the BBC asking reporters to reveal the source of the documents passed to the corporation. The BBC has refused to do this, saying it is not prepared to reveal confidential sources. BBC 2 August 2007
Ambulance call took six minutes. An ambulance trust has admitted call centre staff took six minutes to answer a telephone call. A trust spokesman said the call to the West Midlands Ambulance centre in Brierley Hill, Dudley, was made during a busy period on the evening of 18 May. He said: "Clearly, this is something we are concerned about." West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust has since taken on 32 new call centre staff and June figures show 98% of calls were answered in five seconds. The delay in answering the call had no repercussions for the patient, he said. BBC 7 August 2007
Two ambulance workers re-instated. Two West Midlands Ambulance Service workers who were suspended over an alleged breach of the Data Protection Act will be allowed to return to work. The service said the pair had been re-instated, pending the results of an inquiry, after holding interviews with them and Unison officials on Tuesday. Talks are planned next week with a third worker who was also suspended. The staff, who are based in Shropshire, were sent home last week after control room logs were obtained by the BBC. BBC 7 August 2007
Ambulance staff management vote. West Midlands Ambulance Service staff are being balloted to see if they have confidence in their management. The move, by Unison, follows concerns about the suspension of three ambulance staff in Shropshire. Two workers have now had their suspensions lifted, and a third will meet for talks next week. Some staff said they are also concerned about proposals to close the Shrewsbury call centre and move to Brierley Hill in the Black Country. The workers, who were suspended over an alleged breach of the Data Protection Act, were sent home last week after control room logs were obtained by the BBC. The logs suggested ambulances from the county were being sent to help in Birmingham and the Black Country. BBC 8 August 2007
Ambulance 'leak' worker resigns. An ambulance service worker, suspended for allegedly leaking documents to the BBC, has resigned from his job. Steve Jetley and two colleagues from West Midlands Ambulance Service were suspended over allegations of breaching the Data Protection Act. Control room logs were passed to the BBC amid concerns closing the Shropshire control centre would put patients at risk. Mr Jetley said he felt so strongly over the issue he felt he had to resign. The issue began when the ambulance service announced proposals to close two of its five control centres - one in Shrewsbury and one in Worcester. Control logs seen by BBC staff in July showed ambulances were sent from Shropshire to help in Birmingham and the Black Country, reducing the number of emergency vehicles available in the county. Some staff are worried if the closures go ahead there will be less cover for Shropshire. Mr Jetley, who left his computer business to work for the ambulance service four years ago, said Shropshire residents should fight for their ambulance service. BBC 16 August 2007