My distress at whistleblowers being bullied in today’s NHS | Rachel Pugh

During his long career as a surgeon, Harold Ellis says hospital staff were able to raise concerns about patient care with no fear of suspension or bullying

Professor Harold Ellis is almost tongue-tied with distress as he reflects on last week’s report on whistleblowing by Sir Robert Francis QC. It revealed shocking accounts of bullying in the NHS of staff who raise concerns about sub-standard care or dangerous practice.

“I am just horrified,” the 89-year-old retired surgeon says eventually. “I just cannot comprehend how a situation could possibly happen where a person would have to fear suspension or bullying for raising proper concerns about the way that people were being looked after. It distresses me beyond measure. This would never have happened in the earlier days of the NHS.”

Related: NHS whistleblowers ignored, bullied and intimidated, inquiry finds

Lines of command are no longer clear. There is no longer that personal feeling of responsibility for the patient

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