NHS specialist 'was bullied for exposing poor care at hospital'

Peter Dominiczak12 April 2012

A cancer consultant who blamed cost-cutting for reducing standards of patient care at his hospital told a tribunal today how he was bullied by bosses for raising his concerns.

Ramon Niekrash, 50, sent a series of letters to senior management at Queen Elizabeth Hospital NHS Trust in Woolwich.

Executives at the trust said the Australian-trained urologist's letter-writing was "possibly vexatious" and suspended him for 10 weeks.

In a subsequent inquiry into practices at the hospital, former clinical surgical director Dr Sharon Power said she would like to see him "in chains on a plane back to Australia" but admitted bosses "didn't have a clue" how stretched front-line staff were, the tribunal in Croydon heard.

Mr Niekrash began writing letters, most of which went unanswered, in 2005 when the urology ward was shut down to save money. He warned senior doctors were seeing too many patients, were unable to carry out enough specialist care, and ward overcrowding could lead to an increase in infections.

Mr Niekrash, who is seeking compensation, told the hearing today: "I made reference to a patient who had been diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2007, but was not informed of the diagnosis nor given treatment until 17 March 2008."

He added: "I [vocalised] what many thought but could not say. My disclosures were clearly documented and well founded."

Urology patients were by then dotted around the hospital, meaning the time taken to complete a ward round quadrupled.

Staff who left were not replaced and Mr Niekrash was working as the head of urological cancer for no extra pay, the tribunal heard. Consultants had to deal with up to 72 patients in a day when the recommended maximum was 52.

Mr Niekrash continued: "As a result of my disclosures I was subjected to bullying, harassment and ultimately I was excluded in punitive action by the trust management."

He said he was subjected to a "biased" grievance investigation in order to remove him from the trust.

The hospital declared itself insolvent in 2006 after auditors said it was heading for a deficit of £100million by 2009.

This year it merged with two other hospitals to form the South London Healthcare NHS Trust.

The hearing continues.

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