NHS Highland urged to find speedy solution for compensating bullying victims

Highlands and Islands MSP David Stewart asked about compensation for victims of bullying at a meeting with NHS Highland bosses at Holyrood today.

At a meeting of the Scottish Parliament's health and sport committee Mr Stewart, who is also Scottish Labour’s shadow minister for public health, told the health board's senior management team: "My mailbag has been really full with cases of those who have approached me saying their careers have been ruined and they have lost out financially.

"Is there any scheme of compensation that the board is looking at to try and help these staff who have really seen their careers blighted in many ways and are unable to work?

NHS Highland chairman Boyd Robertson said compensation is being looked at.

But he added: "We are not yet at the stage where we can give a definitive answer as to how we are going to deal with that."

Afterwards Mr Stewart said: "While I welcome the fact that the health authority is turning its attention to this very important issue, time is dragging on and I think there needs be a definitive answer sooner rather than later.

"I will be taking a close look at how this develops for the people who have contacted me and feel very aggrieved about how they were treated.

"I have always argued that there seemed to be an underlying toxic culture of bullying previously at NHS Highland and believe that the new chief executive and chairman are trying to turn this around."

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