Leaked Report Details Bullying, Harassment at Blackpool Victoria Hospital
Blackpool, UK – A leaked report by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) has revealed a deeply concerning culture of bullying, harassment, and racial discrimination at Blackpool Victoria hospital, already under scrutiny following a series of scandals. The findings, reported by The Guardian, highlight systemic issues impacting doctor wellbeing and potentially compromising patient safety.
The RCP report details concerns from resident doctors regarding inadequate supervision, poor workload management, and a lack of response from senior leadership to reported issues. staff described a culture of “keeping your head down,” with many viewing the hospital as “a stepping stone” rather than a long-term career destination, contributing to recruitment challenges.
The hospital has faced a cascade of negative incidents in recent years. in 2018, a whistleblower exposed inappropriate sedation of patients and drug theft on the stroke ward, leading to arrests. Last August, a coroner ruled that the neglect contributed to the suicide of a 27-year-old man after a 22-hour wait for mental health support. In February, a locum doctor was jailed for 12 months for punching a dementia patient, and in 2023, a healthcare assistant received a jail sentence on eight counts of sexual assault against colleagues.
Dr. Madjda Bougherira,chair of the British Medical Association’s north-west regional resident doctors committee,has called for an external investigation into the RCP’s findings. “As well as the content of this report being incredibly concerning, local representatives at the BMA are worried that the trust are not taking appropriate steps to take accountability and make the necessary changes to improve conditions for doctors,” she said. “Concerns around systemic bullying, harassment and racial discrimination must be taken seriously or else a toxic culture of fear will continue to prevail, and doctors will feel unable to speak up, ultimately impacting the wellbeing of doctors and delivery of safe patient care. We need to see greater engagement and transparency from the trust.”
