Mike Nesbitt to set out plan after bullying allegations

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt is expected to set out his department’s next steps in tackling behavioural and cultural issues within the Belfast Trust later on Thursday.

Last week, a leaked review laid bare bullying allegations within the regional cardiac surgery unit, with reports of some surgeons throwing instruments at staff during procedures.

It is understood the plans could see the unit placed on the highest level of the intervention framework – level five – commonly known as special measures.

Health unions have since expressed concerns that the issues are not isolated to one unit within the trust.

A hospital trust or facility is placed in special measures when it is rated as being “inadequate”, when questions are raised over leadership or when it is unable to make sufficient improvements in a reasonable timeframe.

Politicians, including the DUP assembly member Diane Dodds, have been calling for this to happen, saying it followed a series of controversies within the trust.

The chair of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew, has insisted that the organisation is working to resolve the issues.

He met the health minister last Friday, with Nesbitt saying afterwards that his department was finalising a series of interventions to help “rebuild staff and public confidence”.

It is understood that Nesbitt also met health unions and stakeholders earlier this week to brief them on his upcoming plans.

He is expected to publish the details in a written statement to the assembly on Thursday.

The report said an “apparent power battle” had been unfolding between some senior doctors in the cardiac surgical department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.

Some 70 staff spoke anonymously and the report stated there were “clear tensions” between different groups of staff.

The report also detailed the throwing of instruments during surgery as well as “verbal abuse”.

The report added that while there was one consultant “particularly prone” to throwing instruments in theatre, the behaviour was not unique and nursing staff were bearing the “brunt of the bullying”.

In a statement, the Department of Health said the health minister has made clear that the behaviours detailed in the report on the cardiac surgical unit at Belfast Trust are “appalling and he is holding the trust’s senior management accountable for its response”.

“The minister has held detailed meetings with the trust chair and with health service trades unions and representative bodies.

“He will inform the NI Assembly by way of a written ministerial statement about a planned series of departmental interventions.

“These will include accountability measures as well as the provision of external support to help the trust rebuild staff and public confidence.”