Bullying claims to be investigated

NHS Tayside has assured patients and staff that Ninewells Hospital “operates a safe and clinically appropriate model” after the health secretary dispatched the top medical officer to investigate claims of manipulation of waiting times and bullying.

Shona Robison is sending the chiefmedical officer to the Dundee hospital on Monday following allegations that surgical teams were prevented from seeing patients to manipulate accident and emergency (A&E) waiting time figures.

A whistleblower said the teams were being bullied and prevented from seeing potentially seriously ill patients, which could put them at risk.

Duringa health debate at Holyrood, Labour’s Jenny Marra called for an immediate investigation into the allegations.

The General Medical Council (GMC) looked into bullying claims last year and found “no evidence that there was a culture of undermining and bullying in either the general surgery, the trauma or orthopedic units”.

However, Ms Robison told MSPs that she will investigate the new allegations “to make sure thatwe have asked all of the questions and seen for ourselves.

“Make sure the department is not undermined”

I thinkwehave to be very careful here in making sure that one of our bestperforming emergency departments in the country is not undermined.”

NHS Ta y s i d e has recorded some of the lowest A&E waiting times in Scotland, with 99.1% of people treated and discharged within four hours this week.