Health Chief Offers Probe Assurance

Scotland's chief medical officer has promised to listen to the views of all staff as she investigates allegations of bullying and of the manipulation of waiting times at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital.

Dr Catherine Calderwood will visit the NHS Tayside hospital today to speak to staff and management in the accident and emergency (A&E) and general surgery departments.

Last week Health Secretary Shona Robison tasked her with investigating the claims made by a whistleblower who spoke to the BBC.

The whistleblower alleged that surgical teams were prevented from seeing patients in order to manipulate A&E waiting-time figures and that teams were being bullied and prevented from seeing potentially seriously-ill patients.

Dr Calderwood said: While we have received reassurances from the board about the system here in Tayside, when serious allegations like these are made it is absolutely right that they are fully looked into.

I am here today with a completely open mind to listen to staff and look at the systems in A&E and the medical and surgical admissions units.

I want to be completely satisfied that the reassurances provided by the board are correct and stand up to scrutiny.

There will be an opportunity for staff, including trainees, to speak to me without management and on a confidential basis if necessary.

I am equally happy to listen to views from any staff at NHS Tayside who wish to contact me outside of today's visit, to ensure that all views are listened to.

This is an important issue and I will consider the visit over the course of this week.''

The Scottish Government has said Dr Calderwood's findings will be made public as soon as possible.