Members of staff from all sites of England’s largest hospital trust have reported bullying at work according to a report.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) discovered that “staff morale was low” at hospitals run in central and east London by the Barts Health NHS Trust.
The report was said to be “tough but fair” by a Barts Health NHS Trust spokeswoman.
The trust employs 14000 and serves an area with a population of an estimated 2.5 million people.
The quality of care provided by Barts Health NHS Trust across three acute hospitals three specialist hospitals and two birthing centres in central and east London was inspected by the CQC.
The CQC conducted inspections of the Royal London Hospital Newham University Hospital Whipps Cross University Hospital the London Chest Hospital St Bartholomew’s Hospital Mile End Hospital the Barkantine Birthing Centre and the Barking Birthing Centre.
The CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals Professor Sir Mike Richards told the BBC: “We found that Barts Health NHS Trust was in the main providing services that were safe.
“On a more negative note we found that staff morale was low” he added.
“Too many members of staff of all levels and across all sites came to us to express their concerns about being bullied and many only agreed to speak to us in confidence.
“The trust needs to take action to make sure people feel confident to speak up.”
A Barts Health NHS Trust spokeswoman said: “We are reaffirming very strongly that bullying has no place at Barts Health and staff are strongly encouraged to raise any concerns they have about their workplace or the care provided to our patients.”
The Royal College of Nursing told the BBC: “The report repeats serious warnings about the staffing levels at Barts Health and says explicitly that problems with bullying stress and low morale have to be addressed if the trust are to achieve their vision.
“It is hard to see how this is reconciled with the trust’s decision to cut 200 nursing posts before Christmas and cut pay for several hundred more.”
Further reading
Bullying and harassment at work – Oakwood Solicitors
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