Newsnight has been investigating one of the worst performing Hospital Trusts in England, and can report allegations that University Hospitals Birmingham Foundation Trust (UHB) – one of the biggest in the country – has been using disciplinary investigations to punish senior clinicians who have raised patient safety concerns.
In the past decade, the trust has referred 26 of its doctors to the General Medical Council which can investigate a doctor’s fitness to practise, a Freedom of Information Act request by an NHS safety campaigner found. In all cases the GMC took no further action.
Current and former senior doctors say the "mafia style" Trust is more interested in protecting its own reputation than what is happening on wards at the hospital.
The Trust, which has one of the worst records for patient outcomes, was last year rated "requires improvement" by healthcare regulator the Care Quality Commission.
The Trust said: "All patient safety concerns and incidents are rigorously investigated to prevent harm to our patients." They also said there were well-established routes and support in place for staff to raise concerns, and it promoted and encouraged this.
UHB Foundation Trust looks after the health of more than two million people but currently has neither a permanent Chief Executive nor Chair. David Grossman reports the investigation conducted jointly with BBC West Midlands, and produced by Sean Clare.
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