Health Secretary admits Government will bailout NHS Highland over bullying claims

3rd March 2020

The Health Secretary has finally admitted the Scottish Government will bailout NHS Highland to help the health authority deal with bullying and harassment cases.

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP, David Stewart, lodged a Parliamentary Question asking what funding the Government had agreed to give NHS Highland for the "healing" process and the investigation of allegations of bullying and harassment of staff previously employed by the NHS board.

Ms Freeman replied: "The Scottish Government will provide NHS Highland with additional financial support to assist with the delivery of the healing process and discussions are ongoing regarding the level of financial support involved."

Mr Stewart has been contacted by many former and current NHS Highland staff concerned about their treatment, but also concerned about the delay in getting a system set up to deal with their cases.

"It is positive that the Health Secretary has stepped in and I wait to see how much money is going to be transferred," said Mr Stewart.

"I am hopeful this funding will provide compensation and also psychological support for the people who have contacted me and that the system will be independent.

“I know there are former employees who've lost or left their jobs and, in some cases, had their careers ruined and will be unable to go to an industrial tribunal due to a time-bar on cases and will be unable to afford a civil case. This move by the Government will hopefully prove the way forward."

Mr Stewart explained that many former staff had been left in the dark about progress with setting up a system and had only read what was in the media after recent visits to Raigmore by Ms Freeman.

“There is still a gap in letting people know what's happening, especially after such a delay and I've been told that for many this is affecting their health and wellbeing.”

The MSP has been told by the health authority that it recently has “very positive discussions” with the Scottish Government to help with the resources needed to ensure the process is able to cope with what is submitted, also to ensure it has the level of external and impartial input to create trust and confidence is in place.

Mr Stewart believes the system will be fully scoped, designed and a plan in place in the next few weeks with the scheme up and dealing with cases by mid-April.

Previously, in reply to a Parliamentary Question lodged in November last year, the Scottish Government said it had not been asked for funding by NHS Highland in order to set up a compensation scheme for former victims of bullying and harassment.