Birmingham Hospital Staff Complaints Fall But Remain at Unsafe Levels
Complaints raised by staff at Birmingham hospitals have seen a recent decrease, but health trust bosses have issued a stark warning that the number of active cases remains alarmingly high and is causing significant harm. A detailed report presented to the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust Board reveals that while progress has been made, the situation continues to pose serious risks to both individuals and the organisation.
Recent Statistics and Staff Dismissals
The report, covering the period from September 1 to October 31 last year, indicates that four members of hospital staff were dismissed during those two months. The reasons for termination included fraud, dishonesty, physical assault, and issues related to the right to work in the UK. Additionally, 54 new concerns were formally reported to the Human Resources department within the same timeframe.
Despite a 12 per cent reduction from the previous month of August, the total number of live cases under investigation stood at 130. This figure is described as being almost double what the trust considers to be 'normal levels'. The report emphasises that the volume, complexity, and contentious nature of these cases are overwhelming the capacity of the people management teams.
Efforts to Resolve Cases and Ongoing Challenges
In a positive development, 29 cases were successfully resolved during September and October. Furthermore, the average time taken to conclude investigations has been reduced from 22 weeks to 17 weeks. A dedicated 'Casework Blitz Day' was also held in November as part of concerted efforts to streamline processes and address the backlog.
However, the report delivers a sobering assessment of the ongoing impact. It states: 'The volume persists in being too high, too complex and too contentious, and is subsequently and inevitably taking too long. It is causing unsafe levels of risk that are difficult to mitigate. The sheer number of cases and contentiousness is causing harm – to the people involved in cases, the Trust, and significantly for the team who are working incredibly hard under this pressure.'
Breakdown of Live Cases and Specific Initiatives
Of the 130 live cases currently being handled, the majority—86—relate to standard disciplinary matters. A further 21 cases concern 'dignity at work' issues, highlighting ongoing challenges with workplace culture. In response to specific problems identified in staff surveys, Heartlands Hospital has developed a targeted action plan designed to address bullying, harassment, and abuse within teams that recorded the worst performance scores.
The report acknowledges the hard work of the people caseworkers, noting they have 'done great work to close more cases and bring down investigation times.' Yet, it reiterates that the current caseload of 130 remains unacceptably high, continuing to challenge the trust's operational capabilities and posing a sustained risk to staff wellbeing and organisational safety.
