HSJ’s round-up of the must read stories from Friday
- Today’s must know: Trust executive director under investigation after bullying allegations
- Today’s talking point: CCGs find no link between GP hours and A&E attendance
- Today’s departure: Trust chief retires ahead of CQC inspection report
- Today’s must watch: The war on variation
Manager investigated over bullying claims
An ambulance trust executive director has been seconded to two national organisations after being accused of bullying by senior operational staff.
David Macklin, executive director of operations at Yorkshire Ambulance Service Trust, has been seconded to the National Ambulance Resilience Unit and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives pending an investigation regarding bullying allegations.
Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust has been called in by the trust to conduct an external investigation into the accusations and will report its findings to Yorkshire Ambulance chief executive Rod Barnes.
Ray Gray, regional officer for Unison, said: “A number of allegations were made to us which we have raised with the employer.
“The employer is now investigating those allegations and we are now awaiting the outcome of that investigation.”
HSJ has been told an investigation was undertaken by the trust after 11 operations staff, including senior managers, made complaints to Unison of bullying and difficulties in their working relationships with Dr Macklin.
The trust reached an agreement with Unison that Dr Macklin will be “off site” while the investigation is conducted.
Chief exec retires
The chief executive of a struggling trust has announced his retirement, shortly before the publication of an inspection report.
Michael Scott has left Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust after three and a half years at the helm.
Mr Scott, who has been an NHS chief executive for nearly 25 years, joined NSFT shortly before it became the first mental health trust in the country to be put into special measures after being rated inadequate in 2015 by the Care Quality Commission.
The trust has grappled with staff shortages and a high number of out-of-area patients, while local campaigners have raised concerns about the amount of unexpected deaths of patients at the trust.
Mr Scott steered the trust out of special measures with NSFT rated ”requires improvement” in October 2016. However, it remains rated “inadequate” for safety.
The outgoing CEO said: “The role of chief executive is one where there is always important work to lead, challenges to overcome and improvements to drive ahead, and I feel the time is now right for a new leader to take on that mantle.”
