Inquiry launched into Wolverhampton New Cross Hospital whistleblower treatment
An independent inquiry has been launched into the treatment of a whistleblower by the Royal Wolverhampton Hospitals NHS Trust.
It comes after a whistleblower who alleged she had been brought in to 'fix mortality rates at New Cross Hospital has been told she behaved 'recklessly or negligently' in going public with her allegations and now faces being sacked.
Sandra Haynes Kirkbright claimed that 'every rule in the book' was broken to try to improve mortality rates.
The trust rejected the allegations of altering the death rates, calling them an 'outrageous slur', and said independently-verified evidence 'categorically disproved' her claims.
Mrs Haynes-Kirkbright was suspended by the trust after allegations of bullying, harassment, persistent swearing and unprofessional behaviour were made against her by colleagues.She has now been ordered to attend a disciplinary hearing.
NHS bosses have now announced there will be an independent inquiry into the trust's treatment of whistleblowers by the NHS Trust Development Authority, which monitors hospital performance.
It will be conducted by human rights lawyer Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, the former president of the Law Society.
