Dr Narinder Kapur says NHS whistleblowers are treated unfairly
The eminent brain doctor claims the NHS is riddled with 'failures' that endanger patients
He is undertaking a 5-day hunger strike outside Department of Health HQ
Dr
Kapur will camp outside the building in Westminster, London, for the
whole week and if he gets moved on he will decamp to the statue of
Gandhi, who has inspired him, in Tavistock square.
Vocal: The doctor next to the sign outlining his grievances with the NHS
A pioneering brain doctor who was
unfairly sacked for following his conscience is staging a hunger strike
in protest at the 'unfair' treatment of whistleblowers by the NHS.
Dr Narinder Kapur, 62, a world authority on brain behaviour, lost his job at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, in 2010.
The
former president of the British Neuropsychological Society claimed he
was kicked out for blowing the whistle over underqualified and
unsupervised staff treating patients at the hospital - a practice he
claimed was endangering patients.
Protest: Dr Narinder Kapur is confronted by security staff outside the Department of Health in London.
An employment tribunal went on to rule he had been unfairly dismissed, but he was not reinstated.
The
doctor today staged the second day of a five day hunger strike outside
the Department of Health head office, to protest his and other
colleague's treatment for raising concerns about the health service.
Dr
Kapur believes the NHS is rife with 'failures' and feels staff are not
treated or managed correctly, which has lead to the mistreatment of
patients.
He is calling on
the government to impose a complete change to the health service and get
rid of a 'dictatorial and secretive' management structure.
Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, where Dr Kapur was dismissed in 2010.
Dr Kapur said: 'I undertake this five-day hunger-strike with reluctance but with resolve.
'It
pains my heart to see how failures in the NHS have contributed directly
or indirectly to harming patient care, to a waste of public funds and
to distress for NHS staff and their families.
'Over
the past two years, I have repeatedly raised my concerns in a wide
range of settings - NHS, legal and political - but with no tangible
outcome to fix these failures in the NHS.
'I
am fortunate that God has given me the strength, knowledge, experience,
determination, resources and good health to be able to make a protest
in this way.
'I regard it as a moral and ethical
responsibility to do what I can to bring about changes in the NHS that
will benefit a large number of people.
'I
take my inspiration from the actions and words of Mahatma Gandhi, whose
birthday is this week on October 2, and who also engaged in peaceful
protests that included fasting.'
During
Dr Kapur’s tribunal in July the panel ruled the hospital attempted to
fast-track his dismissal by rehearsing witnesses after an investigation
was launched into his conduct.
The
judgement read: 'The principal reason for Dr Kapur’s dismissal was the
fact there had been an irredeemable breakdown in trust, confidence and
communication between himself on the one hand and a variety of
management individuals within the trust organisation.'
However,
the tribunal found Dr Kapur, who had clashed with staff over how
neuropsychology clinics should be run, was 75 per cent responsible for
his own downfall.
As a result, the panel said he would only receive 25 per cent of any compensation and would not return to work at the hospital.
A Department of Health spokesperson said: 'We
have taken action to support NHS whistleblowers, including
strengthening the NHS constitution and setting up a new helpline to
advise staff and help them understand their rights.
'Staff
on the frontline know when patient care needs to improve - better
support for whistleblowers will help create a culture where staff will
be able to raise genuine concerns in good faith, without fear of
reprisal.'
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