AN independent investigation into bullying and misconduct within the senior ranks of the Health Department has identified ‘allegations which may warrant further consideration’.
Government chief executive Suzanne Wylie commissioned the report following the circulation an anonymous letter sent to senior politicians, health staff and the Island’s media, which made alleged ‘numerous instances of bullying and harassment’. The letter said that the bullying culture within the Health Department had severely damaged morale within the department, had brought ‘our hospital to its knees and literally to the point of complete collapse’ and named several senior civil servants.
Among the most serious claims made in the anonymous letter were that a number of long-serving doctors have been bullied and intimidated, and that a member of staff falsified their CV. It also claims that doctors felt unable to question certain clinical decisions and that the bullying ‘left the healthcare workforce very demoralised and, in many cases, highly experienced doctors, nurses and other staff have left’.
Mrs Wylie, in a statement, confirmed that the work had been completed in January but said that the report would not be published as ‘it is not appropriate to provide further details that would contain confidential information and data protection obligations’.
She said: ‘On 3 October 2022, the Government of Jersey received an anonymous letter containing allegations about Health and Community Services. Given the nature of the allegations and that they had been circulated widely without evidence, an independent expert was appointed to objectively conduct an initial review and to assess any evidence available.
‘The expert concluded his work in January 2023 and provided the government chief executive with a report. The report recommends that some of the allegations should be dismissed as no evidence was found whatsoever and that a number of other allegations have already been determined under Government of Jersey and/or Health Department processes. It recommends that there were a small number of allegations which may warrant further consideration. The Government of Jersey has notified involved or potentially involved individuals accordingly.’
The allegation contained within the anonymous letter came off the back of a damning report on clinical governance at the Hospital released last August which found that the Health Department lacked openness, transparency and internal and external accountability.
The report, written by Professor Hugo Mascie-Taylor also found that several interviewees had described clinical situations in which ‘bullying, dismissive behaviours had occurred’.
Health Minister Karen Wilson accepted the 61 recommendations made by Professor Mascie-Taylor and committed to making radical changes at the Hospital.
