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15
Feb 2022
Harrogate hospital paid consultants £82,000 to investigate bullying
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust has paid consultants £82,000 to investigate concerns of a “culture of bullying” within the organisation.
Deloitte was commissioned for £30,000 to examine concerns about leadership and culture at the trust and Harrogate Integrated Facilities, a a wholly-owned subsidiary that supplies services to Harrogate District Hospital and community services.
A 2018 national NHS staff survey, a British Medical Association member survey and the trust's own 'fair and just culture' diagnostic had triggered concerns.
After it found issues in some areas of the service, the trust commissioned Deloitte for a further £52,000 to undertake a detailed review of leadership and recruitment practices at HIF which was published at a trust board meeting in June 2020.
Deloitte's report said some staff described the culture at HIF as “toxic”. It cited cases of people being ignored or ostracised, belongings defaced with offensive graffiti and people's lockers and equipment being glued.
£82,000 culture review
The initial review included interviews with 52 members of staff and 63 surveys. It found “widespread concerns” over bullying, leadership and poor recruitment practice at HIF.
The report said a “significant number” of those interviewed explicitly stated that bullying was taking place or described events that could be labeled as such. It added some of the reports were dismissed as “banter”.
Read more:
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- NHS writes off £13m in Nightingale hospital beds cost
Deloitte also found that the approach to recruitment at HIF “did not demonstrate good practice” and recommended a thorough review of its policies.
As a result, the trust launched a formal investigations into the findings.
Trust 'confident' it has addressed report findings
The Stray Ferret asked the trust how it had addressed poor recruitment at HIF and whether any staff members were disciplined as a result of the investigation.
The trust said it was confident its recruitment policy complied with company policy and that it had addressed Deloitte's findings.
Steve Russell, chief executive of HDFT, said:
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