A PANEL looking into claims of bullying by staff at NHS Highland will probably be sitting until the end of the year, a health chief has predicted.

Fiona Hogg, the health board’s human resources director, has also told a meeting that the recommendations of recent reports on the subject have been fully accepted.

Two reports on accounts of bullying by and towards NHS Highland staff went before the integration joint board (IJB) of Argyll and Bute Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) at its virtual meeting on Wednesday, March 31.

The new and outgoing chairs of the IJB also welcomed the findings of the reports, and pledged to continue working to make the health sector a good place to work.

Last week the Advertiser reported the views of two former HSCP staff members from Helensburgh, Melani Erlank and Dr Jan Calder, who said the organisation still has a great deal of work to do before it can claim to have fully tackled the issue of employees feeling bullied at work.

Ms Hogg said: “We have now received the first two reports on the hearing process, which are based on accounts shared by former and current NHS Highland colleagues who experienced bullying in the period up to December 31, 2019.

READ MORE: 'Long way to go to tackle HSCP culture of bullying'

“We recognise and accept the recommendations and we repeat our sincere apologies to anybody who experienced bullying or inappropriate behaviour while working for us.

“But we have not finished the broad scrutiny, which is important given the wide-ranging nature of the recommendations.

“It is expected that the independent review panel will continue to sit, probably until the end of the year, for people who want to have their cases heard.”

Reports will continue to come to the board and be shared with the IJB on a quarterly basis.

“While noting that we have made significant progress, we do not underestimate the programme of work that is under way, and needs to be in place to address the recommendations,” Ms Hogg added.

“We are committed to making NHS Highland a great place to work and for colleagues to work in a kind and compassionate way with each other.”

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