HEALTH officials in Argyll and Bute have apologised to front line NHS staff in the area who said they had experienced bullying and harassment.

Almost four out of five NHS workers in the area who took part in a survey said they had experienced and/or witnessed bullying and harassment, while three out of five said they believed there was a culture of discouraging the reporting of bullying.

The survey was commissioned by NHS Highland and asked current and former NHS staff at the Argyll and Bute health and social care partnership (HSCP) to describe their personal knowledge of being bullied or harassed while working for the organisation.

A total of 446 current staff – 29 per cent of the 1,540 NHS staff working for the partnership – took part in the survey, along with 62 former staff members.

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The survey found that:

* 79 per cent of respondents had either experienced, witnessed or both experienced and witnessed bullying and harassment;

* Of those, 87 per cent said it happened several times or frequently;

* 68 per cent of respondents experienced bullying or harassment;

* 65 per cent of respondents were current staff who reported experiencing bullying and harassment;

* 49 per cent responded that this had occurred in the last 6 months;

* 61 per cent of respondents believe there is a culture of discouraging reporting.

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NHS Highland’s chair, Professor Boyd Robertson, said: “We are deeply concerned by the results of the survey and accept them fully.

We sincerely apologise to any colleague who has experienced bullying or harassment and are determined to make the changes necessary to improve the experience for colleagues and rebuild trust and confidence across the whole organisation.

“While significant work has already been undertaken to deliver a number of initiatives to address our cultural issues, this report reinforces the need for that programme to continue and for key priorities to be acted upon quickly.

"We have immediately put in place an action plan for Argyll and Bute which integrates into our wider culture improvement programme and will be delivered in partnership with colleagues and independent agencies."

Joanna Macdonald, the HSCP's chief officer, added: “It is distressing to see that a significant number of our colleagues have experienced bullying and harassment and addressing the implications of this report will be a high priority.

"We will work in close partnership with colleagues and stakeholders across all of the organisation to deliver the actions necessary to achieve a culture that is based upon dignity and respect for each other.”

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Reacting to the survey results, Dawn MacDonald, Highland health care branch secretary with the UNISON trade union, said: “It is tragic that the very staff that we clap for every Thursday to thank them for their unselfish caring for our loved ones have experienced bullying and harassment working for the NHS.

“The results show that 68 per cent had experienced bullying and 49 per cent of respondents said the bullying and harassment had occurred in the last six months.

"This means bullying and harassment is happening now, in the NHS, in the midst of this pandemic.

"It must stop. UNISON will support our affected members in securing justice and demanding a meaningful change in the culture.

"Confidence is low and we need to start to rebuild that.

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“It is very sad that so many (34 per cent) from nursing and midwifery felt the need to complete this survey on bullying and harassment.

"It also speaks volumes that 62 ex employees of Argyll and Bute HSCP went out of their way to fill in this survey.

“However, while a sobering read, these results are not surprising.

"UNISON has been raising concerns internally and with the Scottish Government regarding behaviours within the HSCP, the management team and human resources department since October 2018.”

The survey's findings were included in a report for the HSCP's integration joint board, which is due to meet on Wednesday, May 27.

The HSCP says a new 'Speak Up' service is due to be launched on July 1, offering staff access to independent confidential support to raise concerns.

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