The UK’s National Health Service employs 1.7 million people.45 It is the world’s largest publicly funded health service. There are cases when employees have found themselves “victimized” by management for one reason or another. A prime example is that of a senior consultant, around 50 years old, working for a London hospital. She was suspended on full pay for three years after raising concerns over staffing levels in her clinic. Shortly before her suspension, a major case of child abuse implicating the hospital hit the headlines. As the hospital had failed to notice these problems, the consultant became a whistleblower and exposed staffing concerns. Deeply concerned, the hospital promptly offered her money with a gagging clause as part of the agreement. She turned it down. It took the support of hundreds of colleagues for her to return to work eventually. Petitions that received great support from former patients had added to the call.

However, she would never work for that hospital again.

Since the incident, the consultant has been instrumental in trying to bring about changes to the support and protection of whistle-blowers in service.

2-1. Was the hospital’s decision to suspend the consultant correct? Explain why or why not.

2-2. If you were the consultant’s line manager, how would you have dealt with the situation?