Damning report reveals bullying culture left NHS workers ‘feeling suicidal’
A damning report into bullying at NHS Highland has exposed evidence of staff considering suicide and suffering depression, alcoholism and drug abuse.
GMB Union
NHS Highland bullying scandal: Health chief warns staff inquiry findings make for ‘difficult’ reading
The new chief of crisis-hit NHS Highland has admitted bullying exists within the health authority ahead of the findings from a QC-led inquiry being revealed today in the Scottish Parliament.
Unions to table legal case for offshore wind jobs at Holyrood summit
Trade unions are to make the legal case for Scottish Government intervention in offshore wind jobs during a summit at Holyrood today.
Warning Four Seasons administration is ‘tip of the iceberg’
Campaigners last night warned Four Seasons Health Care's plight was proof of a "crisis" in the care sector.
Pupil support staff to be balloted on strike action over cuts
Hundreds of pupil support staff helping special needs children across Highland schools are considering “unprecedented” strikes over education cuts proposed by the cash-strapped council.
NHS Highland porters carry out duties as normal as union chiefs argue case for change
NHS Highland porters yesterday carried out their duties as normal after threatening to down tools due to ongoing health and safety concerns, as four staff are said to have sustained needle wound injuries when handling clinical waste.
Union chiefs fear for safety of NHS Highland porters as ‘staff suffer needle wounds’
Union chiefs last night voiced fears for the health and safety of NHS Highland porters over the handling of clinical waste - and are threatening to call for strike action after claims workers suffered needle wounds.
Ambulances in crisis as staff sickness soars across the north
Ambulance services in the north are being “stretched to breaking point” as sick leave levels of paramedics soar, union chiefs have claimed.
NHS Highland whistleblowers hail top-level talks over an external investigation into the claims as ‘the first time our voices have ever been heard’
Whistleblowers at the centre of an NHS Highland bullying scandal hailed top-level talks over holding an external public investigation into the claims – set to be QC-led – as “the first time our voices have ever been heard”.
‘Troublemaker’ GP claims he was blacklisted by senior managers
A GP has claimed he was “blacklisted” by senior NHS Highland managers for being a perceived troublemaker.
Parts of the Highlands left without ambulance cover as emergency situation reaches breaking point
Parts of north Scotland were left without ambulance cover when a crew signed off fatigued after responding to a blaze at Skibo Castle while another transferred a patient to Inverness, union chiefs have revealed.
Eden Court Theatre may have to cut jobs after it loses funds
Outreach drama teachers are believed to be among those in the firing line as bosses at the north’s top theatre consider staff redundancies.
NHS Highland in crisis as patients suffer from delayed appointments
Patients suffered “serious, irreversible and avoidable harm” because follow-up out-patient appointments were “deliberately” delayed to meet targets, a former NHS Highland neurologist has claimed.
More than 100 people come forward after NHS Highland ‘bullying’ claims
More than 100 workers have come forward since whistleblowers alleged a “severe bullying culture” at NHS Highland.
More come forward with ‘harrowing’ tales of bullying at NHS Highland
NHS Highland’s bullying crisis has deepened with calls for a public inquiry because there is “no faith that the existing senior leadership team” can resolve the issue.
Around 10,000 NHS Highland workers left unpaid after banking error
Health chiefs are investigating after almost all of their 10,000-strong workforce were not paid their salary as expected yesterday.
Health chiefs under fire amid Raigmore Hospital security review row
Cash-strapped health chiefs have come under fire for spending almost £9,000 on a security review - but making no changes six months later.
‘Arrogant’ Highland Council faces taxi strike
Inverness taxi drivers have threatened strike action after joining ranks with a national trade union - claiming it aims to use its “clout” to take on the “arrogance and contempt” of Highland Council.
Bifab workforce cut amid union anger as senior staff remain
GMB Union has called the “effective” closure of BiFab yards a “dark day” for the Scottish economy as the core workforce is cut in a move that sees senior staff keep their posts.
Yard jobs pledge denounced as an insult by union
The new owners of BiFab vowed yesterday there would be “no further redundancies” as they look to compete for big renewables contracts.
GMB Union return 91% vote in favour of industrial action on Mariner platform
Workers union GMB said last night that its consultation ballot on the Mariner platform returned a 91% vote in favour of industrial action.
BiFab urged to continue closure of its yard on Lewis – so it will be “ready to go” in the future
Engineering firm BiFab is being urged to place its closure-threatened yard on Lewis on “care and maintenance” so it can speedily restart operations when the market improves.
GMB Union “welcomes” Highland Council decision to save 300 teaching staff
The GMB Union welcomed news that the Highland Council had vetoed proposals to axe 300 specialist teaching roles in schools.
Health chiefs meet hospital security staff to discuss cutting night shift cover
Health bosses met hospital security guards yesterday to begin consultation on controversial plans to cut night shift cover at Raigmore in Inverness to just one member of staff.
North council jobs and services under threat in budget cuts
Highland Council leaders have warned of jobs losses and swingeing cuts to services – on top of a proposed 3% council tax hike – in a bid to deal with a massive £25.8million budget gap.
Claims lives put at risk if night security staff cut at Raigmore Hospital
A controversial proposal to cut security staff working night shifts at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness to just one has been condemned by union chiefs who claim lives of staff and patients would be put at risk.
New Year strikes loom at Dounreay
Dounreay nuclear plant is facing New Year strikes after trade unions officially served notice of a ballot on industrial action over pay.
Fury as NHS Highland’s private home care cost almost doubles
NHS Highland’s annual bill for private home care has almost doubled to £9million in three years - at a time of unprecedented budgetary pressures.
Home carers ballot: Industrial action could be on the cards
Industrial action just short of an all-out strike could hit hundreds of patients of a vital care service in the Highlands.
Hundreds could be left without care as union bosses move towards strike
Hundreds of people in the Highlands could be left without their crucial care service as union bosses accused the "bullying" NHS of forcing them towards industrial action.
Gig economy and zero-hours contracts leave one in three workers in ‘precarious position’
Up to one in three workers are now in “precarious” employment such as jobs in the so-called gig economy or on zero-hours contracts, a new study shows.
Ambulance service deny union claims of cutbacks in far north
Claims that ambulance provision in the far north is to be cut has been denied by the service.