A WHISTLEBLOWER claims to have been victimised after voicing fears over the safety of a Scottish specialist psychiatric service linked to two deaths.
Dr Jane Hamilton has been suspended or off work with stress-related illness for much of the past four years.
Dr Hamilton warned in writing the NHS Lothian east of Scotland perinatal psychiatry service was unsafe before a mother took her life in 2011 after she was allowed to leave hospital. A second mother subsequently died.
Despite appeals to former Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon and incumbent Alex Neil, the Scottish Government did not order an independent probe into this and other critical incidents within the NHS Lothian East of Scotland perinatal psychiatry service that she raised.
NHS Lothian has already been the subject of an external inquiry, commissioned by Ms Sturgeon, into the manipulation of waiting list targets. It revealed a management culture of bullying and covering up of problems and led to its chief executive's resignation.
But ministers were satisfied that the only external examination of the psychiatric service was controlled by NHS Lothian.
The consultant paediatrician who raised concerns about the Baby P child neglect case in London has taken up the whistleblower's case. Dr Kim Holt warned of unsafe practices at the London hospital where baby Peter Connelly was seen days before he died.
His death after suffering injuries over a prolonged period despite being seen by NHS staff and children's services led to an outcry.
She met Mr Neil last month when he heard from two ex-employees of NHS Lothian allegedly victimised after raising concerns.
Dr Holt, who wants greater NHS transparency, said he promised to examine whether the victimisers were still in post "but most importantly that the patient safety issues have been addressed".
Dr Holt said she hoped the doctor could be reinstated "when a full and proper investigation has been carried out. Anyone shown to have hidden patient safety issues should be dismissed".
The cost of the saga has been estimated by an NHS source to be at least a half a million pounds in extra staffing and administration.
The perinatal psychiatry service, based at St John's Hospital in Livingston, provides an inpatient treatment facility for mothers with psychiatric disorders and their babies. Other health boards are joint stakeholders and some raised concerns about access and costs.
In investigating these The Herald obtained copies of documents and correspondence from NHS Lothian and the Scottish Government which show concerns over the safety, quality and management of the service were repeatedly raised.
Inquiries confirmed the whistleblower was Dr Hamilton, a consultant specialising in perinatal psychiatry who moved from England to take on the post when the service opened in 2007.
She was the subject of an internal grievance procedure after she raised the alarm over safety.
She said: "I am afraid I can't comment at this time as I am still in dialogue with NHS Lothian regarding my return to work."
A briefing note obtained from the Scottish Government under Freedom of Information and headed "NHS Lothian Perinatal Psychiatry Service at St John's Hospital in Livingston" highlights concerns raised with ministers.
They include "lack of specialist experience in planning and delivery of the mother and baby psychiatry service" and "allegations of bullying, victimisation and harassment within the team and further afield; the unclear and inconsistent admission procedures resulting in inappropriate admissions".
It highlights "the poor implementation of clinical governance procedures – this includes a series of critical incidents and a recent fatality" and airs doubts over "the impartiality of the upcoming external review into these issues".
NHS Lothian commissioned an "external" inquiry last year but another note shows ministers were told the whistleblower feared this was a whitewash "carried out by colleagues for the most part known to management and the service team". Another mother's death was later reported to ministers.
The day before Alex Neil became Health Secretary, an internal Scottish Government email said Ms Sturgeon was relying on NHS Lothian to ensure all was in order.
A Scottish Government spokesman said: "NHS Lothian carried out a thorough investigation on this issue which resulted in service improvement. W
"e have also been assured by the board's Medical Director they are continuing to take all concerns very seriously."
He said robust whistleblowing policies were in place and health boards were expected to investigate if necessary. A national confidential alert line is also in place
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