Jan Long a clinical advisor at the Wiltshire and Swindon NHS Trust, staff support centre was one of the first to establish the anti-bullying rules in the health service. Long realised that there were no set conditions or terms regarding the accusations of bullying, it was an inhibiting issue. She also acknowledged that bullying is crucial within British hospitals. Recent studies carried out by Kent University suggest that one in three NHS workers are constantly victimised.
Current studies of 6,000 nurses revealed that one in six NHS workers were bullied in the previous year- and showed increased rates amongst the disabled and ethnic minority nurses. This compared to one in ten of the general public. Tim Field {a former victim} is not alarmed by this revelation. Being a former victim, he conducted a campaign to support workplace victims. The bully- online website attracts five hundred people a day.
Frequent users of this site are teachers and the medical profession. Field describes workplace bullies with having mentally impaired personalities, smart but cunning. The credentials to gaining promotions within the medical profession. They are attracted to the profession in order that power and control may be used. Although Long respects the views of Tim Field, she adopts different opinions. Lack of communication and insufficient support for managers, problems will arise.
Especially in a constant changing environment- where managers are under pressure. Cary Cooper a professor of organisational psychology and health at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, states that a large proportion of managers are burdened with a heavy workload. This is then passed onto other employees. Val Wallace a general manager of the Andrea Adams Trust is another charity, which supports workplace anti-bullying.
She suggests that a significant amount of NHS employees are being exploited, but believes the bully is the middle manager under extreme pressure to perform from his superiors and resentment from former colleagues. Long acknowledges the allegations of bullying are a deliberate cover up to the poor performance of work. Managers are finding it increasingly difficult to reprimand staff, especially when dealing with minority groups. Long believes bullying can be transformed if employees are re-educated, individually coaching and group courses. This will help employers to know if they are bullied.
