Whistleblower resigns from NHS trust after being investigated for misconduct over public criticism
A COUNCILLOR has resigned as an NHS Governor after they launched an investigation into his misconduct for blowing the whistle on bloodstained chairs at Grimsby hospital.
Councillor Matthew Brown (Lab, Croft Baker) has resigned from his post as North East Lincolnshire Council's (NELC) representative on the Council of Governors for the Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals (NLAG) NHS Foundation Trust.
Tony Hunter, chief executive of North East Lincolnshire Council (NELC) officially accepted the resignation this afternoon - although Mr Brown is not relinquishing his role as a councillor.
Mr Brown decided to quit the trust after it announced it was investigating him for misconduct when he blew the whistle over bloodstained chairs in the A & E department of Grimsby's Diana Princess of Wales hospital.
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Dr James Whittingham, chairman of the trust, complained that Mr Brown thought it was appropriate to "publicly criticise" the trust and take an "unauthorised photograph" – while Mr Brown believes they should investigate the real problem – the horrific state of the seats in A & E.
In a leaked email to NELC leader Chris Shaw and Mr Hunter, sent last night, he offered his resignation "with a heavy heart", and called the investigation "a waste of valuable public money".
News of the dispute was announced as Gary Walker, a former chief executive at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust, broke a gagging order to voice concerns about public safety at the hospital.
Lawyers of the trust then told Mr Walker he would have to repay £500,000 paid to him in a settlement – a move which has now been slammed by Government Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Mr Brown has also refused to be gagged by the trust and has vowed to continue to campaign for proper healthcare standards for the people of North East Lincolnshire.
Speaking after the resignation, he said: "My personal policy is to do everything to the best of my ability and I feel that I can't do that on the Council of Governors if, whenever I make a criticism, the NHS try to clip my wings."
NLAG NHS Foundation Trust, who are investigating Mr Brown for misconduct, are themselves being investigated because of high mortality rates at Grimsby Hospital.
This was announced following a high-profile report which revealed "the appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of patients" at Stafford Hospital.
Mr Brown added: "The trust seem to be more concerned with suppressing whistle blowers than actually addressing the genuine concerns about standards in our hospitals.
"This investigation into my conduct is a great waste of public money which is extremely valuable with ever-shrinking budgets and would be better invested in providing frontline services.
"I feel I can serve the people of this area better as a councillor than if I am not bound by the shackles of being part of the trust – which makes no sense."
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by NHS_NLAG
Wednesday, February 20 2013, 8:45PM
“Fruitas, yes I'm posting on this site on behalf of the hospital trust. I don't know how comfy or not the chairs will be, I just know they will be made of plastic. The first story about the chairs was published before the letter was sent to Cllr Brown and after he'd been informed of the action been taken. Any member of the public is welcome to attend public meetings (board, Council of Governors, and governor/member meetings), contact their local governor, or ask questions, make comments or complaints via the Patient Advice and Liaison Service.”
by fruitus
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 1:28PM
“Here's some questions for NHS_NLAG.
I take it you are some sort of official spokesperson/insider?
I assume that from the avatar and obvious inside knowledge of the Trust.
Or at the least you are a party to inside information, not in the public domain.
If so, and if you are not sure about the comfiness of the chairs, why not?
Before I buy a chair I try it. Check it for suitability. Drive a good deal from the supplier. I expect public services to do the same. Same old contempt for the user. Foist a knee jerk reaction, uninformed choice on the customer, then blame THEM when they complain again! Time to get it right this time, before you waste any more of our cash. Why does a hygenic chair have to be uncomfortable? A knowledgeable person on here has already pointed out the kind of product to go for that makes perfect sense, or at least to consider. Or is it a spiteful punishment on the public? Why am I incensed. To quote "Hopefully we won't get any complaints about stains but we might get a few about numb bottoms..."”
by fruitus
Tuesday, February 19 2013, 12:43PM
“Well, well, well. What's the old saying 'Taking a hammer to crack a nut'. Lets get things in perspective. We are talking here about a minor piece of hospital hardware that needs attention. The NHS trust has only itself to blame for the story(s). If they had not issued the letter containing the so called 'gagging clause' in the first place, there would be no story. And why issue a letter instead of the good old 'word in the ear' first? Better to have sent the guy a letter explaining the situation, and what was being done about it. Splashed on the front page instead of the warning letter, would it not have turned into a relatively positive story? I lose confidence by the minute in the calibre of the management in handling this issue, or indeed any other. Their version of openness and democracy seems suspect. Looks to me like users badly need an independent, accessible, effective line of communication to the top.”
by Tridentmaple
Monday, February 18 2013, 9:46PM
“It's not worth commenting any further, obviously some saboteurs on the rating bandwagon, probably his mates!”
by bones
Monday, February 18 2013, 3:37PM
“yet again a lot of red arrows must be from the cotton wool club,”
by NHS_NLAG
Monday, February 18 2013, 2:01PM
“Hi davendogs, I've just found out the new chairs will be plastic. Not sure how comfy they will be! Hopefully we won't get any complaints about stains but we might get a few about numb bottoms...”
by davendogs
Monday, February 18 2013, 11:28AM
“You could still have relatively comfy chairs if they where vinyl covered. Easy wipe. Type of thing you find in police cells.”
by NHS_NLAG
Monday, February 18 2013, 10:07AM
“Hello AnonnGY, you're right about the hospitals trust being in the news for its mortality rate but so far there is nothing to suggest this is linked to a cleanliness issue. Cleanliness and infection control is something the hospital is actually really good at, despite this current focus on the stained chairs. You're also right that fabric chairs were perhaps not the best idea and they are now being replaced.”
by AnnonGY
Monday, February 18 2013, 8:44AM
“What I don't understand is...
1. Who is the incompetent person who decided that it would be a good idea to buy chairs that absorb.
2. I hope the replacement chairs come of their wages.
3. Why the people of Grimsby are complaining that someone stood up for the patients and pointed it out.
This hospital was in the national news (BBC) recently for unusually high death rates due to cleanliness. I think it is time people are held accountable. Matthew Brown has done us all a great service by making the NHS Trust acknowledge their errors.
Matthew Brown...Thank you!”
by davendogs
Monday, February 18 2013, 3:35AM
“I doubt it, it will be the clown from previous days having their jollies. Other threads are affected too.”