NHS Highland has denied claims of a 'systematic culture of bullying' after four doctors claimed 100 health workers have come forward as "victims" and demanded an inquiry.
The group of clinicians claim that for at least a decade there had been a culture of "fear and intimidation" at the health board.
NHS Highland, whose board met to discuss the allegations said it took the allegations seriously and had offered to meet the four doctors but said there was "frustration" that they were being "denied" any substance to the accusations.
The clinicians, Dr Eileen Anderson, Dr Lorien Cameron-Ross, Dr Jonathan Ball and Dr Iain Kennedy, first made their allegations public last month in a letter to The Herald.
They said the effects of the "bullying" included "high turnovers" of staff at the Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and Belford Hospital in Fort William.
Dawne Bloodworth, NHS Highland’s interim director of human resources has said that all the internal evidence to date paints a very different picture from what is being publicly alleged.
She said: “There is no evidence that I have seen to date that indicates that the four doctors represent the views of all GPs and consultants. Indeed some clinicians have raised concerns to this effect.
“In common with all parts of the NHS there are certainly pressures in the system and as a board we acknowledge that.
"Sadly we also know there are some incidents of bullying, past and present. We are unanimous as a board, however, that to claim there is a systemic culture of bullying is not a true representation of the facts and opinions that we are currently aware of including feed-back from staff.”
She went on: “That should not in any way, shape or form underplay any incidents of bullying. We have a duty of care to anyone who has been bullied and we are truly sorry that it can happen. We also have a duty or care to anyone accused of bullying to make sure they are also not unfairly treated.
“As a board we have mechanisms, policies and procedures in place to manage this. We have also invited external HR scrutiny to see what more we can do to bring the highest level of confidence possible.”
An NHS Highlands spokesman added: "We are of the firm opinion that it is surely in everyone’s interest for any allegations to be addressed as a matter of urgency.
“Therefore, we unanimously express our ongoing frustration that we are being denied any substance to the accusations and also that the opportunity to have a mature, responsible and respectful dialogue continues to stall.”
The clinicians had said they did not believe a previous offer to meet with the board would "move things forward", but said, as a "gesture of good will", they were willing to have a confidential meeting with senior managers later this month.
In a statement NHS Highland went on: “For the four doctors to make a public claim that ‘a thread of cruelty has purposefully been spun throughout NHS Highland’ simply cannot go unchallenged.
“We feel sure that everyone who cares about the NHS will share the view that our patients, staff and public deserve better and we are calling on everyone to make their voice heard.”
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