Whistleblower's book lifts lid on fight against Walsall Manor Hospital chiefs

Dr David Drew claimed he was sacked as senior paediatric consultant for Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust in December 2010 after emailing a prayer to colleagues and being told to 'refrain from using religious references' at work.

The doctor had also raised concerns over a case where a baby was sent home and died and alleged there was bullying and understaffed wards.

But the trust had argued that Dr Drew, of Anchorage Road, Sutton Coldfield, had failed to accept recommendations made following an independent review sparked by him lodging a grievance against a colleague.

He was dismissed for gross misconduct and insubordination, for failing to accept recommendations from the review and for also disclosing confidential information.

His new book titled Little Stories of Life and Death launched his new book at the Royal Society of Medicine in London.

It sold more than 100 copies at the launch and publisher Matador also has high hopes of reprinting it due to good sales figures.

The book charts Dr Drew's life story and experiences of working in hospitals at home and abroad in places including Nigeria during his career.

Dr Drew, aged 66, revealed he initially did not want to write the book and was urged to publish his experiences by his eldest son Simon, aged 40, who carried out 40 hours of interviews with him.

"He started writing it up, but I immediately felt I could write my own story better. There's a chapter on my five years working in Nigeria and as soon as I did that chapter I was completely hooked," Dr Drew, of Anchorage Road, Sutton Coldfield, says.

"I feel I've got things off my chest. I spent many years thinking things over. We did a lot of research into the facts. Private Eye told me it was beautifully written and have endorsed it.

"Even last night I was taking lots of phone calls and I've had a huge response on Twitter from nurses, doctors and whistleblowers. I feel very relieved that we have got it all down in writing. I think we are going to have to reprint. The publisher said it's doing very well," he adds.

He joined the Manor in 1993 and took the trust to an employment tribunal in 2012 but lost his case and an employment appeal tribunal in London also dismissed his appeal.

The autobiography is dedicated to Walsall youngster Kyle Keen who died in 2006.

His story and photograph are featured in the account

Kyle, aged 16 months, was admitted to Walsall Manor Hospital with a brain bleed in June 2006.

He had been shaken by his stepfather Tyrone Matthews, who was given a six-and-a-half prison sentence for manslaughter.

But the hospital was criticised in a serious case review in 2009 after it emerged nurses treating Kyle for a stomach upset had spotted suspicious bruises on his body a week before he was admitted with the brain injury. Their concerns were not reported to social services at the time by the hospital.

A review into the baby's treatment is being carried out by Manor chiefs.

His book costs £10.99 and is available now at www.troubador.co.uk/book and will soon be at Waterstones in Walsall.