Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Preet Kaur Gill MP seeks independent review into claims of bullying at University Hospitals Birmingham

“It needs to be a fully independent review, not something that sounds like an NHS tick box exercise, as that will not go down well with those who have raised concerns.”

Preet Kaur Gill MP seeks independent review into claims of bullying at University Hospitals Birmingham

Preet Kaur Gill MP has sought an independent inquiry into the allegations of historic toxicity and bullying at University Hospitals Birmingham.

She said reviews already announced by the NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board (ICB) would not go far enough.

The MP Birmingham Edgbaston MP and shadow cabinet minister for international development said she would urge health secretary Steve Barclay to hold a “fully independent inquiry” into the allegations raised by BBC Newsnight.

She claimed dozens of doctors and consultants spoke to her over the working conditions and claims of bullying at the NHS trust and some of the complaints were “distressing”.

Gill claimed the trust and the ICB were “rushing into a review, deciding who to appoint,” instead of doing it in a “very careful” and “measured way”.

"It needs to be a fully independent review, not something that sounds like an NHS tick box exercise, as that will not go down well with those who have raised concerns,” BiminghamLive quoted her as saying.

She said she was holding discussions with Barclay and would meet University Hospitals Birmingham’s new chair, Dame Yve Buckland.

"I will be telling her that I am very concerned that this sounds like the two NHS organisations have come together and planned how this will work,” which would not satisfy the “distressed people I have been in contact with," the Labour and Co-op MP said.

She said she had seen "evidence of staff threatened with disciplinary action over absences, issues raised about patient safety concerns and the extreme pressure staff say they are under."

"We cannot have staff safety and patient harms being compromised, which, she said, "has happened on the watch of the UHB Board."

On Thursday, the ICB announced three reviews into University Hospitals Birmingham to address the allegations made by Newsnight and any broader leadership and cultural issues at the trust.

The first review focuses on the specific allegations and the concerns of patient safety and bullying.

It said a senior independent clinician from outside the local health system agreed to oversee the review.

The Trust will also commission a broader external review of the culture at UHB. The third one will be an external well-led review to be conducted in partnership with NHS England and NHS Birmingham and Solihull.

More For You

UK weather warning as heavy rain

The warning covers a wide area, including popular holiday destinations

Getty

UK weather warning as heavy rain forecast for Western England and Wales

A yellow weather warning has been issued for heavy rain across western England and the whole of Wales, raising the risk of localised flooding and travel disruption just as the school holidays begin and the Easter weekend draws near.

The Met Office warning comes into effect at midday on Tuesday and will remain in place for 24 hours. Forecasters have warned of the potential for flooded homes and businesses, power cuts, and delays to public transport.

Keep ReadingShow less
JD-Vance-Getty

Vance said the US-UK trade deal might be easier to finalise than agreements with other European countries due to a 'much more reciprocal relationship'. (Photo: Getty Images)

Getty Images

JD Vance says ‘good chance’ of US-UK trade deal amid global tariff changes

US VICE-PRESIDENT JD Vance said there was a “good chance” the United States could reach a trade deal with the United Kingdom.

In an interview with the UnHerd website on Monday, Vance said the US was “certainly working very hard with Keir Starmer’s government”.

Keep ReadingShow less
Craig-Williams-Getty

Craig Williams had previously apologised for placing a £100 bet on a July election date but did not confirm whether he had prior knowledge of the timing. (Photo: Getty Images)

Former Sunak aide, Tory officials charged over 2024 election betting

FIFTEEN individuals, including a former aide to ex-prime minister Rishi Sunak, have been charged in connection with alleged betting offences related to the timing of the 2024 general election, the Gambling Commission said on Monday.

Craig Williams, who served as Sunak’s parliamentary private secretary and was a candidate in the 2024 election, is among those charged.

Keep ReadingShow less
tulip-siddiq-getty

Siddiq stepped down as the economic secretary to the treasury in January this year. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tulip Siddiq denies Bangladesh corruption charges after arrest warrant

LABOUR MP Tulip Siddiq has denied corruption allegations after reports emerged that Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) had issued an arrest warrant against her. Siddiq is the niece of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh’s former prime minister who was deposed in August.

Siddiq stepped down as the economic secretary to the treasury in January this year. At the time, she said her family connections were becoming a “distraction” to prime minister Keir Starmer’s government.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer-Getty

Starmer said his Labour government would continue to stand with British Sikhs and called them a symbol of pride in the country’s multiculturalism and a force 'against bigotry'. (Photo: Getty Images)

Starmer thanks British Sikhs for their contributions in Baisakhi message

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer marked Baisakhi with a message from 10 Downing Street on Sunday, thanking British Sikhs for their contributions to the UK across different sectors.

Earlier this week, Starmer hosted a special reception to celebrate the festival, which marks the birth of the Khalsa. He also shared a video on social media showing scenes from the festivities.

Keep ReadingShow less