University Hospitals Birmingham found to have a "toxic atmosphere"
The first of three reviews into the Trust has been published today (Tuesday)
Last updated 28th Mar 2023
A review into the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has found a number of areas of concern, including coercive behaviour and bullying at all levels of management.
The review comes after after junior doctor Vaishnavi Kumar took her own life in June last year. The 35-year-old had been working at the Queen Elizabeth (QE) Hospital Birmingham.
An inquest into her death found that she felt "belittled" at work and regularly returned home in tears.
The review by the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board found that no one from the Senior Management Team had contacted Dr Kumar's family after her death despite them saying that they had.
They also found that a senior member of staff at the hospital was unaware of Dr Kumar's death and emailed her personally asking was she was removed from her post by Health Education England.
"Very significant concerns" by senior doctors at the QE Hospital were sent to the Care Board as part of the review. Comments included:
- A "lack of competency" in the running of the organisation and the impact on basic clinical care.
- Poor communication at both organisation and individual level.
- Bullying- multiple colleagues from multiple services had reported overt bullying and micro-aggressions.
The review has made a number of recommendations including that doctors in training who are concerned about their mental health are able to to speak up freely about concerns with colleagues, and that there is a clear message that they will be listened to.
They also believe that the Trust should commission a partner to deliver awareness training on how to identify issues of bullying, coercion, intimidation and misogyny.
Professor Mike Bewick, Lead Reviewer, said: “Our rapid review has found that services at University Hospitals Birmingham are safe and patients should be confident when using them.
"We have, however, confirmed some, but not all, of the concerns made on the Newsnight programme in December of last year. In response to their concerns and those raised by Healthwatch, Preet Gill and many other individuals who have come forward, we have made several recommendations for further investigation and action.
“We have been disturbed by the consistent reporting of a bullying culture at the Trust and look forward to the next phase of the review where staff and patients will have the opportunity to speak freely and confidentially about their concerns.
Jonathan Brotherton, Chief Executive at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, said: “Patients can continue to be confident that the care and treatment provided at our hospitals is safe. We are pleased that Prof Bewick’s overall view ‘is that the Trust is a safe place to receive care’.
“We fully accept his recommendations and welcome the additional assurance that has been asked for through further independent oversight.
“There are a number of significant concerns that we need to, and have started to, address; we will continue to learn from the past, as we move forward.
“We want to develop a positive, inclusive work environment where people want to come to work, in a place that they are proud to work in, to do their very best for our patients. While we will not be able to fix things as quickly as I would like, we do need to do it as quickly as possible, for the benefit of patients and staff; I am committed to ensuring this happens.
“We must now focus on continuing to provide the best possible patient care, building a values-led culture and supporting our incredible colleagues.”