‘Too Many’ NHS Staff Suspensions

Scottish health boards have been accused of suspending too many members of staff. A support group for health workers said suspensions were often used when there was no threat to patient safety. The Campaign Against Unnecessary Suspensions and Exclusions said hundreds of staff members in Scotland were being suspended.

It said many were for spurious reasons and tighter regulations would protect both patients and staff. The group claimed suspensions were sometimes used as a way of bullying or intimidating employees.

Three years ago Dr Terence Hope was suspended from Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for taking an extra bowl of soup and croutons without paying.

Campaigners said staff were sometimes excluded on trumped-up charges because they had raised concerns about health and safety or because they were being bullied by managers.

The support group said suspensions should only be used as a last resort and when there was a question of patient safety.