Bullying at work

The client I represented today had gone through an NMC fitness to practice process spanning 4 years, with one 8 day hearing adjourned late last year and relisted for this month.

The hearing actually ended one day early, as the panel agreed with my submission that there was no case to answer in respect of any of the 21 charges my client faced - they included multiple accusations of dishonesty.

It was a case in which even the NMC case presenter, an independent lawyer hired by the NMC to represent them at the hearing, expressed his disquiet at the dishonesty charges and the evidence of the NMC witnesses. To his credit, he was fair and ethical in his conduct of the case.

On my client’s part, I had questioned the relevant witnesses strongly about the bullying that my client said she faced from several senior members of staff at the hospital that referred her to the NMC. One witness it seemed was so scared of being answering questions, they called in sick and refused to attend to be questioned by me. Through my questioning, the evidence of the others was exposed as inconsistent and unreliable.

The end of the case brings happiness for my client and a great sense of satisfaction for me, as justice has finally been done. But my client should never have been in this position, with this sword having over her and her registration, having to pay for my help to defend her.

I want any registrants facing fitness to practice processes, where bullying is a factor (and in my experience it often is), to take heart and to know that you can fight back against the bullies and win.