Bullying and toxic culture at one of England's largest NHS trusts

Repeated cases of bullying and a toxic environment at one of England's largest NHS trusts have been found in a review.

The Bewick report was ordered after a BBC Newsnight investigation heard from staff at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) saying a climate of fear had put patients at risk.

A first phase of the rapid review, headed by independent consultants IQ4U and led by Prof Mike Bewick, was published Tuesday.

It is one of three major reviews into the trust, commissioned following a series of reports by Newsnight and BBC West Midlands in which current and former staff raised concerns.

Summarising the findings, Prof Bewick, a former NHS England deputy medical director, said: "Our overall view is that the trust is a safe place to receive care.

"But any continuance of a culture that is corrosively affecting morale and in particular threatens long-term staff recruitment and retention will put at risk the care of patients across the organisation - particularly in the current nationwide NHS staffing crisis.

"Because these concerns cover such a wide range of issues, from management organisation through to leadership and confidence, we believe there is much more work to be done in the next phases of review to assist the trust on its journey to recovery."

The West Midlands trust said it fully accepted the report's recommendations.

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Source: BBC News, 28 March 2023