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Ex-Belfast Trust chairman says he was 'scapegoated' over sacking

BBC News

10-07-2025

Health
BBC News

Ex-Belfast Trust chairman says he was 'scapegoated' over sacking

The former chair of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew has said he believes he was sacked because he was being used as a "scapegoat" by the health minister. Mike Nesbitt sacked Mr Mulgrew in July, saying he believed a fresh start was required at the Mr Mulgrew said the Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health, Mike Farrar, told him that he "did not support the Minister's decision" to sack him, that he "advised against it and regarded it as a political decision made by the Minister who was uncomfortable answering questions before the Health Committee".The health minister said he had "no wish to engage in a war of words with Mr Mulgrew but he made a "number of assertions which I do not recognise as fact". Mr Mulgrew said in a statement: "I am quite happy to be judged on the things that I have done, but I will not allow unfairness or inequity to go unchallenged and no one, including me, should be kicked around for political convenience or be scapegoated by anyone".He said working at the trust had been a "tremendous honour".He said the Belfast Trust was no exception to any "large complex organisation," which will have difficulties."I believe that anyone in a position of leadership has a responsibility to do something to address problems when they are identified," he added."I never avoided any problems in the Belfast Trust and worked to address every issue that arose. At all times I kept the Department of Health fully informed on each issue, and I was open and transparent with all staff."Mr Mulgrew was appointed as chair of the Belfast Trust in April 2023. The Belfast Trust has faced a number of issues over the past decade including building delays, overspends, and repairs and more recently the cultural issues in the Royal Victoria Hospital's cardiac surgery unit - issues which resulted in extra oversight measures being put in place at the Trust. Mr Nesbitt reiterated, in a statement that he had publicly thanked Mr Mulgrew for his said the Belfast Trust was a "complex and challenging organisation to manage"."As Health Minister, I need to have confidence in those in charge of the organisation," he said."It is also the case that events can conspire against individuals, however well-intentioned, and can make their position untenable," he serious consideration, reflecting on the seriousness of current problems, I reached the conclusion that a new start is needed at the Trust with a new chair as well as the new chief executive. I believe that is in the best interests of the organisation, its staff and all those who rely on its services. At the time of Mr Mulgrew's sacking Diane Dodds, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) health spokesperson, said the departure of Mr Mulgrew was a "testament to the sheer scale of crisis within the Belfast Trust"."There have been a series of scandals over recent months and this reflects that. However, it should be remembered that many of these issues predated the current chair's tenure," Dodds added: "There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast Trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual.

Senior doctors at Belfast Trust raised concerns over culture 18 months ago

ITV News

08-07-2025

Health
ITV News

Senior doctors at Belfast Trust raised concerns over culture 18 months ago

Senior doctors at the Belfast Trust raised serious concerns about the culture within the organisation and its impact on staff wellbeing 18 months ago, UTV can reveal. The doctors warned that some medics were so upset by their treatment by management that they were left feeling suicidal. The claims were made during a meeting in January 2024 between a large number of doctors and consultants from across the Belfast Trust and the organisation's former chairman Ciaran Mulgrew. Mr Mulgrew was not the subject of any of the concerns raised by the doctors. Details of the meeting were outlined in a follow up letter from the group to Mr Mulgrew. The letter, seen by UTV, mentioned how some doctors were in tears during the meeting as they outlined their experiences. The correspondence also claimed there had been "clear reference to suicidal ideation amongst consultant staff" who had been subjected to internal disiplinary procedures, known as the Maintaining High Professional Standards process (MHPS). One consultant told the meeting: 'it is only by good fortune that we had not had a colleague commit suicide due to the ordeal.' Concern was also raised "regarding the culture and perceived lack of psychological safety in the environment in which consultant medical staff work in the BHSCT.' Allegations were also made in the letter that in some cases doctors were placed under the disciplinary process after "raising whistleblowing concerns around patient safety." In a statement the Belfast Trust said: "Belfast Trust supports all staff who wish to tell us of their experiences and we have offered a number of options for them to do so. "We encourage staff to talk to us and we also have a firm commitment to our whistleblowing policy. "We are providing bespoke training, and communicate daily with staff, focusing on patient safety in addition to having dedicated weekly governance meetings. "We continue to work diligently to ensure that we make tangible improvements across the organisation, and in particular, within cardiac surgery services." The Department of Health said: "The Department can confirm that the Permanent Secretary met with the non-executive directors of Belfast Trust on Monday evening. "The Department will continue to provide support for the Trust as it deals with a series of significant challenges including service and funding pressures, governance issues and workplace culture. "The Department has engaged with the Trust over a number of years in relation to its challenges. "Following completion of the independent review of the Trust's cardiac surgery unit, Departmental intervention under its Support and Intervention Framework (SIF) was escalated to Level 5, the highest level.

Belfast health trust chairman sacked by Stormont minister

BreakingNews.ie

04-07-2025

Health
BreakingNews.ie

Belfast health trust chairman sacked by Stormont minister

The chairman of the troubled Belfast health trust has been sacked by Stormont's Health Minister. Mike Nesbitt's decision to dismiss Ciaran Mulgrew comes amid a series of controversies within the trust. Advertisement A statement from the North's Department of Health said Mr Nesbitt believed a 'fresh start' was required for the organisation. Mr Mulgrew will leave his post on Friday. Northern Health Minister Mike Nesbitt. Photo: PA In May, a leaked report into staff culture at the cardiac surgery unit at the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH) in Belfast raised concerns about an intolerable working environment and a pattern of consistently poor behaviour. Elsewhere within the trust, the delivery of two flagship new hospital builds on the Royal site – a maternity hospital and accompanying children's hospital – have been hit by delays and difficulties. Advertisement Last month, Mr Nesbitt subjected the trust to increased oversight measures, ramping up his department's accountability processes to their highest level. Confirming the minister's decision to sack Mr Mulgrew, a Department of Health statement on Thursday said: 'Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has decided on a change of leadership at Belfast HSC Trust. 'The current trust chair will cease to hold the post from Friday July 4. 'The minister believes a fresh start is required for the trust. Advertisement 'The minister and department would like to publicly thank Mr Mulgrew for his contribution to the trust and the wider Health and Social Care system. 'A process for filling the chair's post is being initiated as a priority.' The chairman of the Belfast Health Trust Ciaran Mulgrew is leaving his post (PA) The interim chief executive of the Belfast trust, Maureen Edwards, thanked Mr Mulgrew for his 'unwavering support, contribution and commitment'. 'Since his appointment, Ciaran has helped us through some very challenging times,' she said. Advertisement 'In particular, he has shown courage and leadership over the last few months in bringing focus and committing to addressing issues around culture and behaviours in our organisation. Ciaran always acknowledges the fantastic work of staff in Belfast trust and is proud of their many achievements. 'He is leaving the organisation with our gratitude and best wishes for the future. 'I wish to reassure our staff and the public that we will continue to make tangible improvements across the organisation to benefit staff, patients and service users'. DUP member of the Assembly's Health Committee Diane Dodds said the development reflected the 'sheer scale of crisis' within the trust. Advertisement Diane Dodds said the issues within the trust went wider than one individual (PA). But she highlighted that many of the issues pre-dated Mr Mulgrew's tenure. 'Responsibilities within the trust go much wider than simply one individual and the Department of Health will have had an awareness of these issues also,' she said. 'The Health Estates division in the department has an army of professional advisers who have worked hands in glove with the Belfast trust on its major capital projects and decision-making around them. Removing the chair of the Belfast trust will not deflect scrutiny away from many of the minister's senior officials. 'There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual. 'However, we will need to hear more detail about what exactly has prompted this decision at this time. That is something I will continue to probe both within the Health Committee and beyond.'

Belfast Trust chairman sacked by health minister

Yahoo

03-07-2025

Health
Yahoo

Belfast Trust chairman sacked by health minister

Health Minster Mike Nesbitt has sacked the chair of the Belfast Trust, Ciaran Mulgrew. The Department of Health said Mr Nesbitt decided on a change of leadership at the trust, saying he believes a fresh start is required. The minister and department said they would like to thank Mr Mulgrew for his contribution to the trust and the wider health and social care system. Mr Mulgrew will leave the post on Friday and the department said the process for filling the chair's post is being initiated as a priority. In a statement, Belfast Trust's interim chief executive Maureen Edwards said she would like to extend "my sincere thanks to Ciaran for his unwavering support, contribution and commitment during his time as trust chairman". She said Mr Mulgrew had helped the trust through some challenging times since his appointment. "In particular, he has shown courage and leadership over the last few months in bringing focus and committing to addressing issues around culture and behaviours in our organisation," she said. "Ciaran always acknowledges the fantastic work of staff in Belfast Trust and is proud of their many achievements. He is leaving the organisation with our gratitude and best wishes for the future. "I wish to reassure our staff and the public that we will continue to make tangible improvements across the organisation to benefit staff, patients and service users." Diane Dodds, the Democratic Unionist Party's (DUP) health spokesperson, said the departure of Mr Mulgrew is a "testament to the sheer scale of crisis within the Belfast Trust". "There have been a series of scandals over recent months and this reflects that. However, it should be remembered that many of these issues predated the current chair's tenure," Dodds said. She added: "There is a wider systemic problem within the Belfast Trust that will not be resolved by simply removing one individual. "However, we will need to hear more detail about what exactly has prompted this decision at this time." Analysis: BBC News NI health reporter Aileen Moynagh Belfast Trust has been in the headlines for years - from building delays, overspends, and repairs to more recently the cultural issues in the Royal Victoria Hospital's cardiac surgery unit - issues which resulted in extra oversight measures being put in place at the Trust. And while many of these pre-date Mr Mulgrew's appointment as chair of the Belfast Trust in April 2023, Thursday's announcement suggests the health minister didn't have confidence in the fallout of what's been happening there. Now people may ask, why Ciaran Mulgrew? Well, the chairs of each of the health trusts are ministerial appointments, whereas for example, the chief executives aren't. So, Mr Mulgrew's position was one the health minister had control over. Does it happen often? No, it's extremely rare. Only one other Trust chair has been removed from their post in Northern Ireland in the past and that was in the northern trust in 2012. So, this sacking of the Belfast Trust chair perhaps answers some of the questions raised about how the health minister would be holding Belfast Trust to account. Now, while the department said the process for filling the chair's post is a priority, so too is trust appointment of a permanent chief executive to create some stability at its leadership level.

Belfast Trust chair to leave after Mike Nesbitt decision