Doctors report that bullying, sexism and rudeness are commonplace within NHS

Following a number of high-profile cases in the NHS, the General Medical Council have reported that they have found evidence of bullying and rudeness by senior NHS doctors to other members of staff.

Chairperson of the GMC, Dr Dame Clare Marx, said she was “enormously worried” by the issue, which was now undermining the profession and even risking patient care.

Two female GPs have reported on ‘sexism’ and ‘misogynistic behaviour’ being rife in the ‘dark dinosaur-infested depths of GP politics’.

Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA leader, said “I am appalled to hear of the treatment my colleagues describe. I’m sorry and I offer my heartfelt apologies. Abusive behaviour has no place in the BMA and I recognise the courage that it takes to come forward with such allegations and so I thank them for that.”

He added that there would be an independent investigation into the allegations.

The GMC has been investigating workplace cultures across the NHS, following concerns raised about general poor behaviour through a poll of 1,000 doctors. Four in ten of those polled knew of colleagues whose standards had dropped to below that which was expected.

Examples ranged from not being polite or open with colleagues to bullying, undermining and being “rude and aggressive”.

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Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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