This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-54343760

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
East of England Ambulance Service: Bullying 'normalised', report says East of England Ambulance Service: Staff reported to police at 'bullying' trust, says CQC
(about 4 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. Thirteen cases of sexual misconduct by staff have been reported to police at an ambulance service where bullying was "normalised", a health watchdog said.
Poor leadership at East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) left staff afraid to speak out, inspectors said. Inspectors have recommended the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST) is put in special measures by NHS England and NHS Improvement.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has recommended the trust be placed in special measures. The Care Quality Commission said a "negative culture" and poor leadership left staff afraid to speak out.
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 protect patients and staff 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. A string of failures were highlighted by inspectors in their report, including concerns over how the trust acted following allegations of serious offences made against employees.
The CQC said 13 cases of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour, including claims of staff abusing patients, had been made to police between April 2019 and March 2020.
Inspectors also noted:
In November, it emerged three ambulance service 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 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".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.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."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. The ambulance 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."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.""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 region.
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.ukFind BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk