Bullying in the NHS – what"s your experience?

Bullying has long been a serious problem in the NHS.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of healthcare professionals working in the health service who responded to a 2014 staff survey said they had been bullied or harassed in the workplace.

Robert Francis’s 2010 report into the Mid Staffordshire hospital scandal said staff were reluctant to come forward with concerns about poor care because they were scared. Witnesses described “an endemic culture of bullying”, and the report provides graphic examples of the victimisation of those who did raise concerns.

Bullying also leaves its mark on employees’ physical and mental health and costs employers sick pay and turnover. It is also bad for patient care. Staff are less likely to raise concerns and admit mistakes if there is a culture of blame and bullying.

We want to hear about your experiences of bullying in the NHS. Have you been victim to it, or seen a colleague be bullied? What impact did it have on you and those around you? How does your trust handle it?

We want to hear from all roles within the health service – nurses, managers, doctors, administration assistants, allied health professionals, paramedics etc. Please take our survey and tell us what the situation is for you. If you’d like to get in touch to tell your story, please email sarah.johnson@theguardian.com.

Results will be published in the Guardian.

Bullying in the NHS – what"s your experience?