Responding to the Healthcare Improvement Scotland report published today on the review of emergency departments within NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Dr Iain Kennedy, Chair of BMA Scotland, said:
 
“This damning report exposes the reality of poor culture and poor care at Scotland’s largest health board and is no doubt reflective of failings that are felt across many parts of Scotland’s NHS.
 
“The impact of this on staff and patients is clear, with the normalisation of care provided in corridors and ambulance stacking causing a huge concern. Such measures are undeniably harming patients, whom doctors and healthcare teams are doing their upmost to care for in incredibly trying circumstances, leading to moral distress and injury for staff. The fact that rather than working effectively to deal with these problems, this report has exposed “a lack of compassionate, respectful and positive leadership at all levels of the organisation”, should be of huge concern given the obvious impact that has not just on staff, but the patients they are caring for.
 
“Of course, the context for this report is the fact that consultants raising legitimate and serious concerns were not listened to in the first place. This report fully and completely justifies the consultants’ actions. It demonstrates that the Scottish NHS continues to focus more on protecting its reputation than actually dealing with concerns when they are raised and looking for solutions to the pressures facing our healthcare system in Scotland.
 
“As a priority, the recommendations have to be put into action by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, and wider learning adopted by the whole of the Scottish health service. Equally importantly we simply must see a culture shift in our NHS, away from blame, reputation management and a top down, target driven approach, to a better, more open, learning culture which properly supports staff and actually helps improve things for patients.”

 

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.