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East of England Ambulance Service: Bullying 'normalised', report says | East of England Ambulance Service: Bullying 'normalised', report says |
(about 5 hours later) | |
Inspectors found a "negative culture" where "bullying was normalised", at an ambulance trust where three workers died in the space of 11 days. | Inspectors found a "negative culture" where "bullying was normalised", at an ambulance trust where three workers died in the space of 11 days. |
Poor leadership at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) left staff afraid to speak out, inspectors said. | Poor leadership at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) left staff afraid to speak out, inspectors said. |
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recommended the trust be placed in special measures. | The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recommended the trust be placed in special measures. |
EEAST said it would "do everything possible" to make improvements. | EEAST said it would "do everything possible" to make improvements. |
The CQC visited the trust, which serves Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, between 25 June and 15 July. | The CQC visited the trust, which serves Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk, between 25 June and 15 July. |
Various sources, including seven whistleblowers, voiced concerns over its ability to keep patients and staff safe from sexual abuse, inappropriate behaviour and harassment. | Various sources, including seven whistleblowers, voiced concerns over its ability to keep patients and staff safe from sexual abuse, inappropriate behaviour and harassment. |
In November, it emerged three EEAST employees - Luke Wright of Norwich, Christopher Gill of Hertfordshire, and Richard Grimes of Luton - had died in less than two weeks. | In November, it emerged three EEAST employees - Luke Wright of Norwich, Christopher Gill of Hertfordshire, and Richard Grimes of Luton - had died in less than two weeks. |
An inquest into call handler Mr Wright's death heard he took his own life while suffering from stress and anxiety. | An inquest into call handler Mr Wright's death heard he took his own life while suffering from stress and anxiety. |
In February, it was discovered the trust had made 28 non-disclosure agreement payments since 2016 involving cases of bullying, harassment or abuse. | In February, it was discovered the trust had made 28 non-disclosure agreement payments since 2016 involving cases of bullying, harassment or abuse. |
Staff 'disrespected' | Staff 'disrespected' |
The CQC has ordered urgent improvements after finding some senior managers did not have the right skills, knowledge and experience, as well as "combative and defensive" manners. | The CQC has ordered urgent improvements after finding some senior managers did not have the right skills, knowledge and experience, as well as "combative and defensive" manners. |
It discovered "undervalued" staff were treated "disrespectfully" if they raised issues. | It discovered "undervalued" staff were treated "disrespectfully" if they raised issues. |
Inspectors also said the trust did not learn from an independent report's recommendations after an employee was sexually harassed. | Inspectors also said the trust did not learn from an independent report's recommendations after an employee was sexually harassed. |
They added some leaders were not decisive enough when staff were accused of predatory sexual behaviour towards patients. | They added some leaders were not decisive enough when staff were accused of predatory sexual behaviour towards patients. |
England's chief inspector of hospitals, Ted Baker, said some of their behaviour had stopped "staff from speaking out, including on serious issues such as safeguarding and abuse". | England's chief inspector of hospitals, Ted Baker, said some of their behaviour had stopped "staff from speaking out, including on serious issues such as safeguarding and abuse". |
"This fuelled a negative culture, where bullying was normalised, and put patient and staff safety at risk," he said. | "This fuelled a negative culture, where bullying was normalised, and put patient and staff safety at risk," he said. |
"I have also recommended the trust enters special measures, so it can receive the support it needs." | "I have also recommended the trust enters special measures, so it can receive the support it needs." |
Damian Sherman worked for the EEAST's Hazardous Area Response Team until 2016, but left claiming he was bullied and that other staff had reported the "toxic work environment for years". | |
Mr Sherman said the ability for staff to report mistakes in a blame-free culture and to learn from those errors was lacking and not in patients' interests. | |
"If this situation within the ambulance service continues unchecked, we will find people making more mistakes because they don't feel safe, they don't feel nurtured," he added. | |
The trust's chairwoman Nicola Scrivings admitted the CQC report "makes for very difficult reading" but "fully accepts" its recommendations. | |
"We need to improve and we will now do everything possible, as fast as possible, to make the improvements required," she said. | |
"In a message to staff today, the executive team has again reinforced its commitment to listen to and support anyone who raises concerns." | |
The EEAST has 4,000 staff and 1,500 volunteers across the six counties it serves. | The EEAST has 4,000 staff and 1,500 volunteers across the six counties it serves. |
NHS England and NHS Improvement said a decision was being made on putting the trust into special measures following the CQC's recommendation. | NHS England and NHS Improvement said a decision was being made on putting the trust into special measures following the CQC's recommendation. |
Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |