Fife NHS - Ganging Up On Women?
Some extraordinary evidence emerged from yesterday's tribunal hearing involving Fife NHS.
Not least that a male doctor's complaint about a female nurse appears to have been put together with the aid of other professional and managerial colleagues.
Now a trade union rep might advise on such matters, but other senior NHS managers is a different thing altogether.
See the tribunal exchange below during which the male doctor declared he would not work with the female nurse - before taking 8 weeks off work.
DU is the male doctor, JR is the lawyer for the doctor and Fife NHS.
JR Email to KS on ?26th Dec
DU We met in consultant office. Told her the story, reiterated what happened. Told her v upset and anxious and worried about being at work [taking a moment]
DU Said liked being at work, enjoy, but dont want to be here w C here. Discussed possible next steps. EP also present (DrP). She was also working then and cld corroborate what I said.
JR Corroborated her
DU That had spoken, was distressed and walked to car
JR What actions decided?
DU A couple. Looked at B&H policies, what was under hatred, internal ? that stores guidance. We found policy on hate incidents or hate on characteristics...finding pages
JR Bullet points: did u discuss any of these?
DU Harassment and bullying definitally, offensive, was it also verbal abuse?
JR Look at B&H policy
Which PC is relevant?
DU GR
JR Re types of harassing behaviour, 12 bullets
DU Comments offensive, ignoring when try to speak to her
DU Personal & inapprop Qs. Offensive & inapprop comments. denial of my identity. Use of derog terms - is man derogatory but thing in my context I think it is. Deliberate behav that doesnt accept my PC. Isnt consistent, as she hadnt denied my identity before, but xmas incident was
DU not acknowledging my identity. Repeats non-acceptance and claearly demonstartes non-acceptance
JR What next
DU Approp was complete a datex, a system for raising concernsw. General purpose and used for lots of things. Makes ppl aware of incidents, eg needle stick.
DU Also hate incidents. This datex was completed by someone else but accurate. KS completed it. I gave her the info, she wanted my language to be used and my views. Wanted me to be comf w what said
JR Refs chromosomes and prison refs. How did u know was a rapist?
DU On the radio
DU We wrote during mtg and she submitted shortly afterwards
JR Why was datex correct thing to do
DU Cos policy said to. none had reported a hate incident b4. Never been subjected to a hate incident b4. Following policy
JR What else discussed?
DU Drafting a formal complaint to send seperately. What support I might need. Referral to occupational health, speak to my GP, attend private counselling org via GP to process what had happened to me
JR Look at complaint document. What version is this?
DU Initial.
JR Includes Timeline and description [lists multiple dates] Then BMA involved - Robert Ronald- attached to 15 Jan email. What did BMA add?
DU Req copy of draft. Had a phone convo. Advice was re including correct info including ppl's names rather than anon. And info
DU re my role. What to expect
JR Why ask for help
DU Had never drafted a CX before. Thought they'd be helpful, had respect at work policy. Be good for advice.
JR Looking at final CX version
DU Yes is final version
JR On 29th Dec, what was work pattern. Had a few AE shifts
DU ahead of secondment to anaesthetics. Had communicated that wldnt work shifts w C. KS would review rota and compare our shifts. If overlap, DU wld not attend. Secondment was 4 weeks
JR Any more mtgs?
DU Yes, ED and DR Current on ? Cant remeber date. Dr Kerr sees the Datexs
DU DK said an IX and suspension ahead of IX, a nutral act as worked out how to proceed.
JR When did u learn of C's claim?
DU MArch. Made me pretty afraid. Not totally unexpected, afraid it wld happy as a strong recent history og gps who deny reality of trans ppl to advance their polit agenda and I dint want to be exposed to this
JR Why C added u as a R?
DU I dont know. I didnt see a reason as was a hospital decision re CR. Felt a personal issue. Opposition to me and my presence rather than gen belief. Felt targetted
JR How long off work for?
DU 8 weeks and then phased return. And now off since 13 Jan, officially until 2 Feb
JR Why off sick?
DU Been informed of legal action. Clin Lead told me it was happening. At end of March, CM told me in dept that C returning to work which I found diff
