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New chief at NHS Highland 'won't tolerate bullying'


By Staff Reporter

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Pamela Dudek, the new NHS Highland chief executive.
Pamela Dudek, the new NHS Highland chief executive.

BULLYING will not be tolerated within NHS Highland, the health authority’s new chief executive has declared.

Pam Dudek, who took up the role at the beginning of this month, inherits the ongoing fallout from last year’s damning Sturrock report which concluded hundreds of staff had potentially experienced inappropriate behaviour.

While she acknowledges there are still ongoing issues, she also wants to highlight the positive aspects she has encountered and is keen that NHS Highland does not become defined by the bullying issues, or that its innovative work is overshadowed by negative headlines.

“It is not great for us if we become synonymous with a bullying culture,” she said.

“I will not tolerate it if bullying is going on. It is unacceptable.”

She said there had clearly been big issues and for affected individuals, it was “awful”.

A range of measures have been implemented, including a training programme for staff. Courageous Conversations training, as well as a guardian service aim to address concerns and support early resolution.

“I don’t find people languishing – I have found people keen to do good work. I have also met people who have had bad experiences and having difficulty in recovering from that. It is incumbent on me to get that resolved.”

But Mrs Dudek said it would take time to bring about cultural change and acknowledged 25 of the 39 complaints made by staff in the past year had not yet been resolved.

“Sometimes cases are quite complex and don’t get resolved very quickly,” she said. “There can be so many different reasons. But if things can be resolved quickly, they should be.

“Even though new cases are coming through, until they are resolved it is difficult to say whether it is bullying or not.”

She said those feeling unhappy with an experience was not necessarily being bullied and not everyone in the organisation felt they were being bullied.

She felt there needed to be continued work on support around the wider culture – not just about the attitudes around bullying, but about working together.

“Culture and having a positive working environment and a respectful working environment is critical,” she said.

Since joining NHS Highland she has come across teams and individuals doing “amazing” things.

She cited colon capsule endoscopy trials – a capsule camera which is revolutionising the treatment of bowel disorders – and the use of new technology as good examples. She has also taken part in a series of virtual workshops across the region to discuss remobilising services affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Dudek said the motivation, engagement and ideas on how people could work positively together were there.

“That doesn’t speak to me of downtrodden workforce who are disengaged,” she said.

“The level of motivation that we can do things differently for the good of the people of the Highlands is tangible.

“I don’t find people languishing – I have found people keen to do good work.

“I have also met people who have had bad experiences and having difficulty in recovering from that.

“It is incumbent on me to get that resolved.”

Whistle-blowers (from left) Dr Eileen Anderson, Dr Lorien Cameron-Ross, Brian Devlin (media adviser), Dr Iain Kennedy, Dr Alistair Todd and Gavin Smith (GMB union).
Whistle-blowers (from left) Dr Eileen Anderson, Dr Lorien Cameron-Ross, Brian Devlin (media adviser), Dr Iain Kennedy, Dr Alistair Todd and Gavin Smith (GMB union).

Mrs Dudek said her message to staff was: “My experience of coming in has been really positive and I am really keen to work with them to make sure this is a great place to work and for those who are experiencing difficulties, they should use the mechanisms to speak up.”

She said it was a privilege to be given the post and was keen to serve the people of the Highlands and deliver the best services possible.

Related: Bullying 'still an issue' at NHS Highland

New service for bullying victims launched


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