MSP David Stewart 'at a loss' over answer on bullying compensation package

A NORTH MSP says he is "at a loss" to know why he has not had an answer from Scotland's health minister about a compensation package for NHS Highland staff who were victims of bullying and harassment.

David Stewart, a Labour MSP for the Highlands and Islands and his party's spokesman on health, put down a parliamentary question last month asking if the Scottish Government had received a request to fund a compensation scheme.

Health secretary Jeane Freeman said she would respond by December 11 but has now told Mr Stewart she will reply "as soon as possible".

He says he is perplexed as to why the answer is taking so long.

"I do not understand why it cannot be answered in the time allocated," Mr Stewart said. "Cynics might suggest the answer might well pop up sometime over the festive period, but I am hopeful it will be answered while the parliament is still sitting this week. I would have thought it was a simple yes or no answer."

NHS Highland said it had been decided the healing process would "not extend to matters of financial loss or compensation". Victims would have to seek compensation through the legal system.

Mr Stewart said: "I know there are former employees who have lost or left their jobs and, in some cases, had their careers ruined and will be unable to go to an industrial tribunal due to a time-bar on cases and will be unable to afford a civil case.

"In September, at the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee, NHS Highland’s interim chairman, Professor Boyd Robertson, told me that compensation was being considered but he could not give a definitive answer about how it would be tackled. That gave people some hope which has now been taken away."

Mr Stewart says he accepts NHS Highland’s financial position means it cannot afford a compensation scheme itself. He also pointed out the Sturrock review into the bullying claims suggested an independent review panel could be formed to look at cases where victims suffered some financial loss.

He has written to Ms Freeman and NHS Highland’s chief executive, Iain Stewart, asking what has happened to that suggestion.

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