Barts Health NHS Trust

Baroness Masham of Ilton Excerpts

Thursday 19th March 2015 Lords Chamber

[Earl Howe]

My Lords, I cannot disagree with the philosophy expounded by the noble Baroness. It is very important that not just the trade unions but members of staff generally feel involved and have a sense of ownership of the organisation for which they work. I hope it is of some reassurance to the noble Baroness that staff and health partners will be fully involved in the development and implementation of the improvement programme and that a staff representative will be a member of a new improvement board at Whipps Cross.

[Baroness Masham of Ilton (CB)]

My Lords, it was stated in the press that there had been bullying at Whipps Cross and that people had been denied food and fluid for far too long. What is being done about those people who bullied patients?

[Earl Howe]

The noble Baroness is right. The CQC found that there was a culture of bullying at Whipps Cross. They had concerns about whether enough was being done to encourage a culture of openness and transparency—something on which, as she knows, we place great emphasis in the light of the report on Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. I can only say to the noble Baroness that this is one of the issues that will be top of the list for the new improvement director at Whipps Cross.