Alder Hey faces new allegations of malpractice and bullying

LIVERPOOL’S world-renowned Alder Hey Children’s Hospital today defended its reputation amid allegations of failing to investigate alleged surgical malpractice, withholding information from patients and bullying among staff members.

The claims, published in the Independent on Sunday newspaper, prompted Chief Executive Louise Shepherd to write to parents and carers of patients.


Ms Shepherd said the allegations were “completely unfounded and highly insensitive.”

Since 2008, the article in the Independent on Sunday alleged, whistleblowers who have come forward with concerns about practice at the hospital have been ignored and those who speak out face bullying or being disciplined.

One Tory MP, Bill Cash, who represents Stone, in Staffordshire, called for a fresh investigation into the concerns.

Alder Hey responded with a robust denial of any wrongdoing, and referred to a report from the independent Care Quality Commission (CQC) which said there were “no current concerns” with the Trust.

The CQC statement said: “We were made aware of a concern via a whistleblower last year and we are fully satisfied that it was correctly followed up by the Trust.

“If there are any further concerns from a staff member or member of the public, we would strongly advise them to get in contact with us.”

In her letter, Ms Shepherd urged families who have any concerns about the Independent on Sunday article to make contact with the Trust.

She also said she believes bereaved families may have been contacted by journalists from the newspaper, and offered them the Trust’s help and support.

The allegations are a fresh blow for the children’s hospital following the organ scandal of the late 1990s.

A spokesman for the Trust said they “worked tirelessly since then to ensure it has the most open culture of any hospital in the UK.”

They also stressed complaints from both staff and patients were always taken seriously.

john.sutton@liverpol.com
0151 472 2491

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