Why did the Public Health Agency and the Department of Health spend £150,000 on a review in the RVH?
According to the Irish News , a leaked report into behaviours at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast has described a chaotic working environment in which heart surgeons have “thrown instruments” during surgery. An independent review was ordered into the cardiac surgery unit last year. BBC NI reported of an “apparent power battle” between staff at the unit, bullying allegations and claims of a lack of trust among staff.
The trust has asked the review team for the names of individuals accused of poor behaviour.
This is an indictment on the Trust who have clearly not followed their own procedures and processes that are in place to deal with Bullying, Harassment, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
More than £150,000 has been spent on this review. This money could have been spent on patients and service users. The Workers Party is calling for a detailed breakdown on why a problem in one department, in one hospital was not dealt with through normal grievance and disciplinary procedures at trust level. The RQIA has requested a separate impact review because serious concerns were raised over patient safety as far back February of this year.
It is becoming clear that it is the culture across all levels of our health services that needs changing, structures that allow these types of situations to go unchecked, then throws vast sums of money at them is scandalous. Have those in charge forgotten that this is public money they are spending. The Assembly Health committee, which is in place to scrutinise decision making, must address this issue as a matter of urgency and ensure there is accountability.