A safe haven is being created for alleged victims of historic bullying within NHS Highland.
An inaugural meeting has been planned for “survivors” and will be hosted by Inverness Cathedral at the city’s Kenneth Street Hall on Wednesday, between 4pm and 7pm.
The organiser, a nurse who wishes to remain anonymous, said the gathering is open “to anyone who has lost their jobs and careers or suffered mental problems” as a result of bullying which was exposed by whistleblowers in 2018.
Hundreds of staff have reported suffering bullying within the service, while many have quit their jobs or transferred elsewhere within the NHS.
Four clinicians – doctors Eileen Anderson, Lorien Cameron-Ross, Jonathan Ball and Iain Kennedy – have spoken of “high turnovers” of staff at Raigmore and at the Belford Hospital in Fort William due to bullying allegations.
An independent review by QC and mediator John Sturrock, published in May of last year, acknowledged the problem at the health board.
Compensation claimants must either seek recourse through the health board’s human resources department or the courts.
Scottish health Secretary Jeane Freeman said her department had “approved the principles underpinning the launch of a healing process”.
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