#NHS

01 02 2024

NHS anaesthetist fell asleep on the job | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Law, General, Handbook, Health & Safety, Investigations #consensus hr, #consensushr, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #misconduct, #NHS, #outsourcedemploymentlaw, #outsourcedhumanresources, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

A senior NHS anaesthetist, Thomas Herbst, has been suspended after he was caught napping in an operating theatre during surgery. Herbst fell asleep shortly after administering an anaesthetic and failed to wake up even when tapped by a colleague. He blamed long working hours and an undiagnosed illness for his drowsiness. This is not the first time Herbst has been caught sleeping in the theatre, as he was previously given a warning by the General Medical Council. Despite being found guilty of serious professional misconduct, Herbst was suspended for six months after offering to reduce his number of shifts. The incident resulted in the cancellation of an afternoon list of patients due for operations. Herbst defended his behaviour, stating that many anaesthetists across the UK close their eyes in operating theatres. The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service has ordered a review hearing for Herbst later in the year.

Daily Telegraph

The Times

London Evening Standard

The Daily Telegraph

Our HR Comment: NHS anaesthetist fell asleep on the job | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “This article demonstrates a very worrying episode of tiredness at work and in a sector where the health and welfare of your team is of the utmost importance. Consensus HR states that regardless of what sector you work in, the hours you work must be managed correctly or as in this instance you could be having the adverse effect to what you are aiming to achieve and thankfully in this case, no detriments to health occurred. Businesses always need to ensure that any misconduct is fully investigated correctly, and the appropriate action taken such as reducing the number of shifts / hours a member of the team works.”

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23 10 2023

NHS staff granted ‘safe space’ powers to speak out about mistakes | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Law, General, Health & Safety #bedfordshirebusinesses, #hertfordshirebusinesses, #mistakes, #NHS, #outsourcedhumanresources, #outsourcing, #safe space, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

NHS staff will be able to speak out about mistakes without fear of reprisal for the first time, thanks to the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB). The HSSIB has been granted “safe space” powers, meaning that any testimony or evidence given to it will not be handed over to another agency unless the High Court rules that it must. The body aims to help staff feel safe in speaking honestly about mistakes and understanding how to prevent them. The HSSIB can enter and inspect hospitals, seize documents and equipment, and compel individuals and organisations to answer questions. It replaces the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch. Sir Bernard Jenkin MP, who chaired a parliamentary committee that backed the idea of legal protection, said: “It is the real catalyst for breaking the hold of the traditional blame culture in healthcare. People make mistakes that are part of a failing safety system, but rarely because of deliberate negligence or carelessness.”

The Sunday Times

Our HR comment: – NHS staff granted ‘safe space’ powers to speak out about mistakes | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew P Chilcott, FCIPD, ACEL, Owner of Consensus HR comments: “Following the stories we have heard recently regarding mistakes made in the NHS and their severe consequences, it is great to see this new scheme allowing a ‘safe space’ to give information without fear of it going to a third party unless the High Court rules it must. In any organisation it is vital that all members of the team feel confident in being able to express mistakes to the team and management and a culture is developed where they learn from their mistakes and make amendments to procedures etc, so that the same mistake does not happen again. This is why at Consensus HR; we ensure our clients have set Policies & Procedures / Standards in place for all areas of the business and their teams and that then development of their teams works in conjunction with them, and the appropriate action taken should anybody no meet them such as further development or disciplinary action.”

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If you wish to set up adequate Policies & Procedures / Standards for your business and teams, give us a call now for a non-obligatory chat. “Consensus HR – Helping companies take the pain out of managing people whilst Preventing People Problems.”

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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12 09 2023

Female surgeons sexually assaulted while operating | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds

Matthew Chilcott Blog, Disciplinary & Grievance, Employment Law, General, Investigations #bbc, #NHS, #outsourcing, #sexual harassment, bedford, bedfordshire, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, outsourcedHR, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Female surgeons say they are being sexually harassed, assaulted and in some cases raped by colleagues, according to a major analysis of NHS staff by the University of Exeter, the University of Surrey and the Working Party on Sexual Misconduct in Surgery that has been shared exclusively with BBC News, which has spoken to women who were sexually assaulted in the operating theatre while surgery took place. The study’s authors say there is a pattern of female trainees being abused by senior male surgeons, and this is happening now, in NHS hospitals. The Royal College of Surgeons said the findings were “truly shocking.” Nearly two-thirds of women surgeons that responded to the researchers said they had been the target of sexual harassment and a third had been sexually assaulted by colleagues in the past five years. Women say they fear reporting incidents will damage their careers and they lack confidence the NHS will take action. Surgical training relies on learning from senior colleagues in the operating theatre and women have told BBC News it is risky to speak out about those who have power and influence over their future careers. The report, which is being published in theBritish Journal of Surgery, is the first attempt to get a sense of the scale of the problem.

BBC News

Our HR comment: Female surgeons sexually assaulted while operating | Consensus HR – Herts, Beds.

Matthew P Chilcott – FCIPD, ACEL, Owner comments: “What is going on? This news on the BBC today is extremely worrying to say the least and how can anybody be expected to go to work and be treated this way? This should definitely be investigated by the relevant line manager and the appropriate action taken which if proved could be instant dismissal.”

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If you wish to discuss any work conduct issues and how to deal with them to best practice and law, give us a call now.

YOUR OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT.

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23 11 2022

Menopausal women and flexible working patterns

Matthew Chilcott Blog, General #NHS, #outsourcedhumanresources, Business, Business Owners, hertfordshire, HR, HR Advice, HR Consultant, HR Consultants, HR Support, menopause, Small Business, SME, SME's, stevenage

Employers can share staff data in a mental health emergency | Consensus HR | Herts, Beds

Menopausal women and flexible working patterns

Helen Watson, HR Advisor at Consensus HR writes; “Adding to our previous blog on the menopause, the NHS have announced a new guidance for employees and managers. This is a great step in reducing the stigma in talking about the symptoms of the menopause, as well as putting in place practical steps to support those affected by the menopause.”

The NHS outlines why this matters in their guidance:

The NHS employs over 1.3 million people and around 1 million of these people are women. This is over 75% of the entire workforce. Women between the ages of 45 and 54 alone make up a fifth of all NHS employees, and so up to a fifth of our workforce could be experiencing menopausal symptoms.

Six out of every 10 women experiencing menopausal symptoms say it has a negative impact on their work. With the right support, women do not need to press pause, struggle through, or leave their careers during this natural transition. Many women will continue to suffer in silence unless we break the taboo and start talking openly about the menopause at work.

NEWS ARTICAL

Menopausal women and flexible working patterns

Women working in the NHS will be able to work from home if they are suffering symptoms of menopause, the head of the health service has said. Writing for the Telegraph, Amanda Pritchard says female health workers who were “silently suffering” should not be expected to just “grin and bear it.” The guidance instructs NHS employers to consider “any reasonable adjustments to their working pattern” – including shorter hours, flexible breaks and remote working. “Women approaching or going through menopause should not have to put up with feeling uncomfortable at work, or feel any shame in talking about a transition which is simply a part of life,” Pritchard writes.

Contact us now

Do you have a Menopause Policy? Do you want to increase your and your team’s knowledge on the subject? why don’t you contact us now?

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