More than a quarter of trust staff have bullying issues

The latest staff survey for the trust, which runs Stafford County Hospital, reveals that 28 per cent of staff have raised concerns over their treatment from colleagues, higher than the national average of 24 per cent.

The figure, taken from the 2016 staff survey, which will be discussed at a board meeting on Monday, is the same as that reported in 2015, with plans in place to implement an action plan to tackle the problem.

Charlotte Lees, workforce equality and raising concerns manager with the Trust, said: "The 2016 Staff Survey indicated no change in the percentage of staff reporting experiencing harassment, bullying or abuse from other staff in the last 12 months at 28 per cent, compared to the average for acute trusts of 24 per cent.

"Attitudes and behaviours remains the most frequently reported concern raised at UHNM.

"Implementation of an action plan focusing on tackling bullying cultures as part of the Social Partnership Forum call to tackle bullying in the workplace ‘A Collective Call to Action’ is to be monitored by the Trust Wellbeing Group and overseen by Quality Assurance Committee."

At Monday's meeting bosses will also discuss concerns raised by members of staff during the first four months of 2017.

These relate to attitudes and behaviours, equipment and maintenance, staffing levels, policies, procedures and processes, quality and safety, patient experience and service changes.

The trust also wants to make staff feel more comfortable about raising their concerns and has pledged to place promotional posters around its hospitals directing staff on the best procedure for doing so.

Ms Lees said: "The focus going forward will be to take forward the Collective Call To Action Tackling Bullying actions and to produce promotional posters on raising concerns, based on branding developed by the National Guardians Office for distribution across the trust."