The leadership of a prominent cancer trust acted in a ‘defensive and dismissive’ manner when serious concerns were raised about bullying behaviours and multiple failings in the handling of a major research contract, an external review has found.
As previously revealed by HSJ, NHS England commissioned the review into events at The Christie Foundation Trust after whistleblowers raised numerous concerns over a research project with pharmaceutical giant Roche, and about the way they were treated as a result of speaking out.
The NHSE review, which was led by Angela Schofield, chair of Harrogate and District FT, was published earlier today within trust board papers. It described the trust’s research division as “ineffective” and said it had “allowed inappropriate behaviours to continue without challenge”.
The review added: “It may… be thought to be surprising that NHSE/I found it necessary to commission an external rapid review to look into concerns which had been raised by colleagues within the research and innovation division."
“The root cause of this seems to be an apparent failure by those people in leadership positions who were aware of the concerns that had been raised, in the circumstances covered by the review, to listen to and take notice of a number of people who have some serious issues about the way they are treated and wish to contribute to an improvement in the culture."
It also summarised the experiences of 20 current and former staff members who said they suffered “detriment as a result of raising concerns”, although it did not make a clear judgement on whether their claims were justified.
They said: “An experience of bullying, harassment and racial prejudice was described along with lack of respect at work… Patronising behaviour, humiliation and verbal aggression by managers and clinicians in public and private spaces contributed to the perception that working environments were emotionally unsafe.”
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Source: HSJ, 27 January 2022
