EXCLUSIVE : And the new Chairman of Wirral University Teaching Hospital is…

As instructed by scary NHS Chief Executive Janelle Holmes we are ‘cascading’ the news that Sir David Henshaw has been appointed as the Chairman of Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH).

Well I never! What a surprise! Knock us down with a feather! Who’d a thunk? etc;etc;

Of course this announcement will come as no surprise to Wirral Leaks readers who have chronicled the Henshaw ascendancy since he was controversially appointed as Interim Chair  in March 2018 :

Now nearly a year later and after a ‘robust process’ (no laughing at the back) we provide a reminder as to why we think this appointment may not be the right one for a beleaguered organisation plagued with allegations of bullying .

Read our back catalogue of Sir David Henshaw stories and what was going on the behind the screens that led to his appointment as Chairman at WUTH  here

Wirral University Teaching Hospital : The Empty Chair

 

Our well placed Wirral University Teaching Hospital source writes to update us on the Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) Chair appointment situation and to give an insight into the current management culture:

Dear Mr Justice

It is just possible your piece last year that Sir David Henshaw was the sole candidate may have had an impact.
It was announced last week, to senior medical staff, that the interview for the chair has NOT yet taken place, contradicting an earlier (and minuted) announcement that it in fact had, and the decision was to be announced by end November.
Details are sparse but it is now believed there are now 3 candidates who will be interviewed “within days”.
Cynics say the rumour that applicants are: Sir David Henshaw and his best-mates -in -all-the-world Sir Duncan Nichol and Sir David Dalton – and Nichol & Dalton are “ringers” and will drop out are wide of the mark, and the truth is considerably stranger than this fiction.
Other WUTH news includes virtue signalling of epic proportions:
Only recycled paper is now used in WUTH – which went paper free some years ago !
WUTH are “refreshing” it’s PROUD* values ! (see below)
No one is sure what this actually means, or if it can mean anything –  but in practical terms all employees have to undertake “learnings” in 2 hour sessions where they are reminded not to be beastly to their workmates.
The “usual suspects” deliver this advice without any trace of irony – senior management do not attend these sessions but all attendees are reassured senior management attend different sessions – and chillingly; at those senior management sessions feedback from the “learnings” is discussed. 

On re-reading this I am forced to admit that none of it makes any sense – but it does give an accurate picture of the overarching strategy that underpins the organisation your readers will turn to when their own health is in peril… 

*Who could ever forget this ? PROUD? Er, it’s a no from us …

The Twelve Days of Christmas : Day Ten – Medicated Soap

Just before Christmas we were asking why there hadn’t been an announcement about the new chair of Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) in our post Wirral University Teaching Hospital : Imagine…there’s still no announcement on appointment of Chairman.

However it would appear that we have an explanation for the ongoing WUTH soap opera from a well placed source who tells us :

“NHS Improvement were less than chuffed with the process for appointing a new chair of the board.  The recent attempt produced two applications: from Sir Diddy (David Henshaw) and someone else who stood no chance. NHS Improvement demanded a readvertisement of the job.  Applications closed on 19^th December.”  

We’ll keep you posted on further developments…

Wirral University Teaching Hospital : Imagine…there’s still no announcement on appointment of Chairman

Following on from our Ruthless WUTH post there was the inevitable Wirral Globe headline story which read 400 new parking spaces to be created at Arrowe Park Hospital after Globe campaign . Although it must be said that 400 new car parking spaces doesn’t necessarily mean that car parking charges for nurses at Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) sites will cease.  But hey! any excuse to publish  a letter sent to Birkenhead MP Frank Field – jointly signed by interim chairman Sir David ‘Diddy’ Henshaw and CEO Janelle Holmes.

Meanwhile we have reason to believe that there are bigger issues affecting WUTH in general and Henshaw and Holmes in particular as a well placed source writes :

Wirral Leaks of 10/12/18 says the announcement of new WUTH chair imminent
This is now at least 15 days overdue and there is limited intel only.
It seems the only applicant for the post has been interviewed the process is stalled at the governors. None of whom will give any more away – for real!

You may recall when former staff nurse Janelle Holmes CEO-bulldoze-through-fest stalled – Sir David Henshaw attended, met the governors to put them right. He’s a candidate this time so there are barriers that – even a rainmaker like him -cannot be circumvented so he can’t repeating his best and only trick – the Henshaw hardline.
It seems he also lacks  insight to now take the hint and withdraw his application in a dignified manner – suppose when the good Lord gives one the hide of a rhinoceros it’s there to be used.

Sir Dave’s track record is of some latter day Red Adair – called in when things boil over to put the lid back – obviously stifling any inconvenient discussion. Then like some mountebank he leaves town before the consequences of the quick-fix become evident.
The CSA went into melt down after this approach.
At St George’s NHS Trust; once he left the problems remained.
It only required matters to enter the real world when a St. George’s surgeon challenged the regimes legitimacy in court and won for the folly of Sir Dave’s only-trick to be exposed.
WUTH has a long-enduring, deeply dysfunctional culture. The directors (he has chaired for 9 months) wilfully fail to either recognise or address this.
Industrial psychologists ought to be highly visible. No really industrial psychologists ought to be on every corridor corner and tasked with re-introducing a fair culture – no sign yet!
What has likely changed at WUTH is jeopardy- I guess (and I don’t know) that the governors have woken up to realities. The execs have for years spoon-fed pap to the governors and have cowed the non-execs. One NED (Non -Executive Director) memorably told BMA (British Medical Association) reps they would never challenge an exec – despite that being in the Non-Exec’s job description.
Simply put – in 1 year execs have put 15% of the consultants out-of action [5% suspended, 10% now work elsewhere] it’s a simple calculation: if WUTH carry on like this there will be no senior doctors left.
This ought to be clear to Sir Dave – the execs don’t seem to have got the memo – not sure about the non- execs.
Stand by for the palace revolution; if the governors have  initiative – and it’s only  exercise of their  will – the executive and non-executives will become administrators held to account by the governors.
The remuneration committee that doubled executive salaries may be reconvened – CEO Janelle Holmes earned between £300 – 305,000 (including benefits) last year; yet to hear what she got when she was promoted. The governors may – choose to pay execs for what they do and not the multiples of clinician’s salary to show who’s boss.

You may say I’m a dreamer but I’m not the only one…

 

Ruthless WUTH

Whilst Frank Field continues his relentless pursuit of headlines as an Independent Labour MP it was inevitable that he would revisit the issue of nurses being charged to park at local hospitals especially as he had a bit of time on his hands from not publicly supporting the Cammell Laird strike. Read more:  MP’s message for hospital boss: ‘What are you doing about parking for our nurses?’

We can get with the campaign to stop nurses being charged for parking (why is this even still a thing?) but might we suggest there are more pressing cultural issues that Field may want to discuss with  WUTH’s latest CEO Janelle Holmes.

You may remember that we reported the appointment of Sir David ‘Diddy’ Henshaw as the interim Chair of WUTH  in our reports Marmalizing the Bullies : St Frank or Sir Diddy?  and WUTH – Carr Crash OUT, Sir Diddy IN

After receiving the following  tip off last month we were anticipating that the  new Chairman of Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) would have been announced by now

Sirs
I write to let you know:
WUTH will interview and appoint its next chairman “by the end of this month”
There is only one applicant; despite advertisement in The Sunday Times & elsewhere; Sir David Henshaw
2 points arise:
If there is no University of Wirral – how can there be a Wirral University teaching hospital ?

Will god continue to help and save us all in the face of this abomination?

To recap you may also recall that on 21/12/2017 Health Service Journal published “Trust Directors blew the whistle over chief executive”, containing excerpts from the record of the minutes of a meeting held with National Health Service Improvement (NHSI) North medical director Vince Connelly.
WUTH Executive Directors Susan Gilby, David Jago and Janelle Holmes raised concerns with CEO David Allison – precipitating his resignation, followed by Michael  Carr with Dr Gilby leaving soon after in unusual circumstances to be Medical Director of Chester /CEO.
NHS England investigated the complaints and found there to be no substance to any of them in a report titled Investigation Report of NHS Improvement re: Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Issues Arising from Senior Staff Concerns Reported in Late 2017.

So having helped create a CEO vacancy and despite concerns about allegations of bullying Holmes then applied for the post. A WUTH insider tells us that whilst the WUTH website [at that time] said that Holmes as  Chief Operating Officer had a “focus of improving patient quality and safety” apparently nothing annoyed her more than when senior medical staff highlighted clinical risks or incidents. Those staff then found themselves subject to the type of processes uncovered by a Freedom of Information request published by Wirral Leaks. Our source tells us :

Executives use ‘Maintaining High Professional Standards’ (MHPS) as a disciplinary measure and try to say individual has ‘volunteered’. You may not know but at this time WUTH was invoking those processes on at least 3% of senior medical staff – this rate is about 40 times national average.

11 of 234 is very nearly 5% of the consultant staff 1 in 20 – none were picked up by appraisal process.10 of consultants left unexpectedly in same timeframe…It’s bullying.These processes include absolute confidentiality so consultants who manage to keep their job also know to keep schtum about Janelle Holmes.10% of consultants left in a hurry during this time.

 

Page 131 of the following document provides details of 11 of the 234 senior medical staff at the Trust who were subject to  an MHPS investigation. https://www.wuth.nhs.uk/media/10550/public-board-of-directors-28112018.pdf

Consequently concerns were raised about the possibility that Janelle Holmes might get the CEO job – and several directors and Non Executive Directors were formally put on notice that she was not a ‘fit and proper person’ to hold any director position – these same people were on her interview panel.
Luckily for Holmes so was Sir David Henshaw and her old boss at Salford Sir David Dalton.
The result was not announced because WUTH Council of Governors declined to ratify it. Staff groups made representation to The Governors with clinicians  submitting this letter :

Discussed several concerns
The advert for the position specified a preference for an experienced CEO [this was not JH]
One of the candidates has been identified in press leaks as one of three executives acting against the previous post-holder of CEO……we would be concerned about the apparent probity of appointing a candidate identified as seeking the investigation and termination of the previous post-holder.
Thirdly, the Trust is expecting a CQC report on, among other things, how well led the organisation is under the recent leadership. We would counsel a delay in any ratification of appointment of any current executive manager to CEO until July’s report is available.
We are concerned that promotion of a current executive board member under this level of uncertainty involves the Trust in unnecessary risk.We were disappointed that there was not any apparent clinical involvement in the appointment, beyond the legal minimum.
After recent consultant staff surveys highlighted a closed culture and lack of clinical involvement, we find this process unfortunate.
We would be grateful if you might raise these concerns with your fellow governors and the chairman at the meeting of 20th June, and have no concerns with your sharing this letter with them.

We understand Sir David ‘Diddy’ Henshaw attended The Council of Governors meeting on 20/6/18 and explained to them that they were simply too late in raising any objection and were doing so through the wrong channels.
It is anticipated that Janelle Holmes may not be or was not on Sir Diddy’s appointment board – as he is the only candidate this probably isn’t necessary.
Nor will any clinician – given how Sir Diddy acted with another high profile whistleblower  – https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2293567/This-brilliant-surgeon-work-NHS-Is-blew-whistle-child-deaths-leading-hospital.html – it is doubtful they would be so unwise as to say anything…

Marmalizing the Bullies : St Frank or Sir Diddy ?

Let the marmalization commence.

The previously leaked report written by ‘experienced independent investigator’ Carole Taylor Browne that prompted the departure of Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) chair Michael Carr was officially published today. Read full report here : NHSI WUTH Final report

Ms Taylor-Brown has her own consultancy specialising in ‘Executive and Group coaching, Workplace Investigation and Mediation’ called Tamarix People which sounds like a John Wyndham novel or interplanetary baddies in an episode of Dr Who. Read more here: Tamarix People

However it would appear that essentially Taylor-Brown is your classic ex-NHS poacher turned gamekeeper.  We’re not sure her report tells us anything we didn’t already know about the bullying culture (particularly at Arrowe Park Hospital). Read more here : WUTH – Carr Crash OUT, Sir Diddy IN

However our interest in the story was reignited with the inevitable sneering soundbites from Birkenhead MP Frank Field on the appointment by NHS Improvement of new troubleshooting chair Sir ‘Diddy’ David Henshaw.

“At last we have a proper soul-searching report on Arrowe Park which has been many a year coming. I’ve been campaigning for years for root and branch reform at Arrowe Park. Had MPs been consulted on a new interim Chair, we would not have advised in favour of Sir David Henshaw. We badly need an interim Chair who has a track record of opposing and dealing effectively with bullying and poor behaviour.I will be asking the Secretary of State to appoint such a Chair. How will the hospital now deal with the bullies? I have been given a list of names, who maybe account for only some of the bullies, but we need a Chair in whom those members of staff who have been bullied can trust. I call again for one of the companies dealing with this all the time to come in as an independent body to kick-start a recovery in standards”.

Whilst we agree with Frankenfield on one thing ( that’s a first !) – and that is Sir Diddy is definitely not the man for this particular job – we had to laugh at his whining that if he (and presumably other Wirral MPs ) had been ‘consulted’ on the Sir Diddy appointment that it would not have got their seal of approval. Sorry to have to tell you sweetheart this ain’t Wirral Council – not everything gets run past you first!

As for Field’s ‘Bully List’ – perhaps we should start one up with names of bullies ,both officers and councillors , past and present  ,  who have  been responsible for destroying people’s lives and careers at Wirral Council.  Then we can send it to him and wait for him to tell us with an innocent face that he doesn’t interfere in Wirral Council business!

WUTH – Carr Crash OUT, Sir Diddy IN

Here follows a further couple of more usual leaks from Wirral University Teaching Hospital (aka Arrowe Park & Clatterbridge hospitals) following yesterday’s report of the big water leak at APH:

I thought you would be interested in the fact that Michael Carr has resigned this week as Chairman of Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.It is likely that NHS Improvement advised him to stand down, following the resignation of David Allison, CEO.The Trust can only benefit from the replacement of both.

It comes as no surprise that Michael Carr the chair of WUTH hospital has ‘quit’ after a leaked report exposed widespread bullying at APH.

Carr Quits

This leaked report highlighted claims of “totally unacceptable” behaviour, evidence of “tribal divisions” and junior staff “set up to fail”. As we’ve previously reported regulator NHS Improvement is investigating “cultural, behavioural and governance issues” at WUTH .Of course this is all very familiar to Wirral Leaks readers as another source tells us :

It’s hellish in Arrowe (Park Hospital) , same problem as the Council, drone management and bullying….

Read more here :

WUTH : Leaks to Cascade

Advent Farewell 22 : WUTH – less this Christmas

So what does come as a surprise is that the appalling NHS Improvement – the expression ‘physician heal thyself’ comes to mind – has appointed another notorious bully ‘Sir’ Diddy David Henshaw as the interim chair!

Or perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise – have you noticed how the likes of Sir Diddy always find another  highly remunerated ride on the public sector merry go round after they’ve ‘retired’ with a bumper cheque ? Sir Diddy has previously ‘served’ as CEO of Liverpool and Knowsley Councils and left a trail of controversy in his wake.

You can do you own internet searches on this piece of work – but try this for starters : Henshaw’s Evil Cabal

One of the glowing eulogies comes from current Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner Jane Kennedy : “A man in whom I have no confidence and for whom I have no respect” – and that’s one of the kinder comments.

Inevitably late to the part comes along Frank Field ,wading in where he’s not wanted. Frankenfield wants to “ensure commissioners are sent in both to protect those staff providing an excellent service and with the instructions to root out the thugs and the bullies” : NHS Thugs

The hypocrisy on display here – even for Frankenfield – is absolutely staggering. This is the man who was instrumental in PREVENTING commissioners being sent in to Wirral Council in 2012 when a widespread and corrosive bullying culture was exposed. No consideration of the need to protect council staff or attempts to root out the thugs and bullies then was there ? Could it have been that Frankenfield  knew that some of the most prominent  ‘thugs’ and ‘bullies’ were in the local Labour group -and are still in positions of power?

Is it any wonder the inglorious legacy of this duplicity is that we now discover mental health sick days among Wirral Council staff is at an  eight year high. An ‘Absence Management’ report to be discussed at next weeks Employment and Appointments Committee states:

“A range of initiatives including a focus on mental health support are in place.These activities include targeted approaches for specific areas and universal programmes for all staff with an ethos to support all employees across the organisation.Monitoring and oversight has been further developed to ensure accountability at all organisational levels is in place.”

As you can tell from this anodyne management speak Wirral Council remains in denial it has a bullying culture. Until it does – it will remain a sick organisation.  Wirral University Teaching Hospital bosses and regulators take heed.