MSP 'alarmed' at sharp increase in cases of bullying at NHS Lanarkshire

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Central Scotland MSP, Graham Simpson, has expressed his “deep alarm” at a rise in bullying cases at NHS Lanarkshire since 2020-21.

Figures obtained by the Scottish Conservatives through Freedom of Information (FOI) requests show that there has been a near 50 per cent increase in the number of bullying cases in the NHS Scotland over the last five years.In NHS Lanarkshire the number of bullying cases rose from seven in 2020-21 to 12 in 2021-22.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android While the number of cases in Lanarkshire fell in the last five years, the number of cases have increased by 71 per cent over the last year.Mr Simpson says there is a never a justification for bullying and intimidation in the workplace and says that anyone on the receiving end will only see their mental health suffer further after the stresses of the pandemic.He also says that workplace culture comes from the top, which ultimately means Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf, must act.Mr Simpson told Lanarkshire Live: "The rise in bullying cases at NHS Lanarkshire in the last year is deeply alarming and completely unacceptable.“Staff there or in any workplace should not be subjected to intimidation or bullying.“This workplace culture is ultimately set at the very top, so Humza Yousaf needs to react to these