NHS England launches investigation into staff concerns at leading trust

The national body has stepped in after concerns were raised about the research and innovation department at The Christie Foundation Trust in Greater Manchester.

HSJ has seen an internal email sent by a manager at the trust in early August, which included allegations of “significant malpractices”, as well as claims that some staff members have been “bullied and sidelined”. A senior clinician, who asked not to be named, has also told HSJ of similar concerns around bullying, but said staff were “scared” to raise them.

Neither the trust or NHSE would confirm if these were the concerns that were being examined. Nor would they say who is conducting the review, or what its terms of reference are.

But in an email to trust staff this week, trust chief executive Roger Spencer said concerns had been raised by “a small number of staff” in the research and innovation department and that NHSE had told the trust “the concerns raised do not relate to patient care in any way”.

The internal email from August was sent by a manager to trust chair, Christine Outram, while copying in dozens of other staff. It alleged the concerns had been known about for more than a year and “activity ignored”. It also claimed there were serious cultural problems in other areas of the trust.

Ms Outram, who is currently leading an investigation into an alleged “witch hunt” into whistleblowing at West Suffolk FT, responded on 30 September saying she had commissioned an external independent investigation.

The NHSE review appears to be happening alongside this.

NHSE’s regional medical director, David Levy, said in a statement to HSJ: “An investigation has been commissioned into concerns raised by staff at The Christie Foundation Trust. It is vital that all staff feel able to raise concerns and these will be looked into rigorously as part of this investigation and through standard freedom to speak up processes.”

A spokeswoman for The Christie said they could not provide further details.

• NHS England has set up a confidential email inbox for staff to make contact with the investigation team nhsi.investigationoct20@nhs.net