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Published: 26th May, 2011
EXCLUSIVE by TOM FOOT

AN investigation has been launched into alleged bullying, harassment and fraud by senior NHS bosses.

The New Journal can reveal details of a series of serious allegations against NHS Camden managers. One member of staff is accused of bringing out the primary care trust’s on-call engineers to fix the boiler at his home when it broke down.

NHS Camden is responsible for the administrative control of all medical services across the borough, including hospitals and GP surgeries.

A whistleblower has claimed that seven staff felt forced to quit their jobs after complaining they had been subjected to sustained bullying by superiors. Some were clinically depressed and had to seek counselling, it is claimed.

Meanwhile, allegations of fraud include misuse of public funds and illegal access to confidential data.

NHS North Central London sector, the ­primary care trust’s over-arching body, has confirmed this week it is investigating and treating the matter “very seriously”. The allegations include claims that:

• A maintenance manager was bullied until he went on long-term sick leave with severe depression and was in need of therapy.
• A contracts manager also had counselling for bullying.
• A risk manager was bullied, harassed and made ill.
• An admin manager harassed by senior management suffered serious health problems.
• Two help-desk operators have been harassed by senior management.
• Foul language, racial harassment, bullying of technical teams.
• Accusations of “illegal access” to data accounts.

No disciplinary action has been taken by NHS Camden and when reporters first contacted NHS North Central London sector three weeks ago it was not investigating the complaints.

Insiders say one focus of the investigation is the claim that a senior of member of staff used Camden NHS services to get a boiler fixed at his home during emergency hours. 

According to a letter sent by a whistleblower to the New Journal, “there are horrendous insurance liability implications with something like this and obviously the misuse of trust labour and funds amounts to fraud”. It adds: “Under trust policy, shouldn’t fraud be dealt with by suspension and, on being proved, by immediate dismissal?”

The allegations come at a time when the NHS is under intense pressure from government cuts. The primary care trust has to axe half its managers.

A spokesman for NHS North Central London said it was committed to promoting a climate of openness in which staff feel free to raise concerns, without fear of victimisation. 

“They can be raised at an early stage with their manager or their manager’s manager,” he added.

“It is important staff feel confident concerns will be taken seriously, and addressed appropriately as soon as pos­sible. NHS North Central London is taking the issues raised very ser­iously and is investigating the matter.”