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20
Apr 2021
Directors at West Sussex hospital to step down following ‘witch-hunt’
Two directors are to step down at a hospital that asked staff for handwriting samples and fingerprints as it hunted down a whistleblower.
An inquiry into the handling of the affairs at West Sussex Hospital is due to report imminently.
An inquest was told about a series of errors in the treatment of a patient who died following bowel surgery in 2018. The husband of the patient received an anonymous letter that highlighted concerns about her treatment and suggested questions about a particular doctor should be raised.
The hospital trust commissioned handwriting and fingerprint experts in an effort to identify the author.
The Doctors’ Association described the actions of the trust as a “witch-hunt”, adding that they highlighted a “toxic culture”.
A report in January 2020 by the Care Quality Commission said staff at West Sussex Hospital “did not feel listened to and saw others that had raised concerns be penalised.” It added “Not all staff felt supported, respected or valued and some feared reprisals if they raised concerns.”
The trust’s rating was downgraded from “outstanding” to “requiring improvement.”
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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.
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