Birmingham Hospitals urged to make "serious changes" to prevent harm to patients
Healthwatch Birmingham have reacted to the report out yesterday
Healthwatch Birmingham, the independent feedback service, is calling for the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS trust (UHB) to make serious changes, in order to prevent harm to patients.
It comes after a report yesterday (Tuesday) by NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board, found that there was deep seated toxic culture at the trust and concerns around higher mortality rates.
It also looked into the death of Junior doctor Vaishnavi Kumar who 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.
Healthwatch Birmingham and Solihull Chair Richard Burden called for "full accountability" from the Trust and for them to "show they are willing to change."
He said: "Professor Bewick’s report paints a disturbing picture of serious failings at UHB and shows that the allegations made by whistleblowers were not isolated incidents, but the result of a deep-seated toxic culture which contributed to Dr. Kumar’s tragic death.
"This raises many questions around why so many warning flags and concerns have been seemingly ignored before now. What is clear is that UHB now has no excuse and no time to waste in challenging and changing a toxic culture and dangerous practices that have persisted for far too long.
"As an independent organization representing the voice of patients and service users, patient safety is Healthwatch’s paramount concern. Patients and their loved ones now need greater reassurance and firm evidence that UHB is safe, particularly given concerns about the Trust’s response to its high mortality rates and number of ‘never events'," he said.
The report 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.
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."
There will be two more reviews published this summer.