Statement on the NHS Improvement Board report on governance and behaviour at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Commenting on the NHS Improvement report, published today, on governance and behaviour at Arrowe Park hospital, Birkenhead’s MP Frank Field said:

‘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 the hospital.

‘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’