Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSTrust accused of failing to protect whistleblowers
Three nurses have taken NHS Manchester to a tribunal for failing to protect them after they complained about another nurse also working at Wythenshawe walk-in centre.
Jenny Fecitt, Felicity Hughes and Annie Woodcock blew the whistle on their colleague after becoming concerned about his work experience and qualifications, but say they have 46 examples of victimisation after the nurse remained working at the centre.
Mrs Fecitt told Sky News: ‘[My daughter] received a threatening phone call naming this individual and warning that if I didn’t stop I would have my house burned down. I burst into tears. I took it very seriously. I felt helpless.’
The Manchester tribunal heard Mrs Woodcock initially complained about the colleague to Mrs Fecitt, who passed it on to lower-level management. She pursued it further when she was unhappy with their response.
The nurse was later suspended by Manchester PCT, who hired a professor to investigate. The tribunal was told he upheld Mrs Fecitt’s complaints.
First witnesses are expected to give evidence at the next hearing on Tuesday.
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Readers' comments (2)
Anonymous | 22-Sep-2009 5:34 pm
Sadly, I am sorry to say, that I feel so sad that these ladies have had to go through this, I have whistleblowed myself in the past in the interest of the Public we serve in line with the NMC's Code of Conduct in order to protect the Public and their health, and I had nothing but bullying and harrassment as a result from the NHS Trust that I was working for. I was hauled through the coals for protecting the Public I represented as an Acute NHS Trust Modern Matron in the West Midlands.
I am very supportive of these courageous ladies (in the short term they will think did they do the right thing) and they should hold their heads up high and long term they will realise that they have.
I have since been able to rebuild my life as a result of all the stress, hassle and depression that this caused on an individual basis, but at least there are three of them to support each other.
At my ex Trust, strangely enough, as a result of my whistleblowing, it went to the Health Minister at the time, and the Surgical Management Team were ripped out of action and replaced. The pressure was then on and the Chief Exec Resigned and so did the Chief Operating Officer. Sadly the Director of Nursing who was so blinkered and was not supportive at all, is still at the organisation and her head inserted somewhere, where the sun does not shine and does not support her nursing team. My Professional Lead the Associate Director of Nursing was my rock.
So hang in there girls, I know what you are going through, you are doing the right thing, loads of people are behind and supportive of you.
I would do it all again in order to protect my Public, and I am sure you would too.
Fortunately, I took the my Ex Trust to the cleaners and WON on behalf of the Patients and also went to Tribunal and Industrial Tribunal and won. If it were not for the likes of us, how much at risk would the public be.
The likes of us who have whistle blown should be employed as Consultants to go on behalf of the Government to persuade more to whistleblow on poor practice and to be there to support staff going through or considering such actions. It is a travesty to have been treated the way I was and these ladies have been.
Paul
West Midlands.
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Gareth Price | 25-Sep-2009 11:25 am
Can't agree more with either of the first two comments, having whistle blown fraudulent activity among trust managers relating to target times, I have been bullied and harrasses and this has followed me to my new job which was a demotion as well.
I am now leaving the NHS as this is an organisation which fosters and encourages bullying and I am no longer prepared to tolerate it.
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