Investigation into UHMBT urology

An impossible situation... When consultant urologist Peter Duffy was about to face his former bosses at an employment tribunal he was put in the most unenviable position at the eleventh hour. Peter claims that UHMBT's solicitor Sean Hick, who works for Capsticks, sent him a letter just a few days before the beginning of the hearing warning him that he would be held liable for £100,000 in costs if he lost the case. Peter says he was stuck between a rock and a hard place - knowing he was in the right and had to defend his integrity and professionalism but also fearing that he could be bankrupted. "I had to have a number of agonising conversations with my family," he says. "It was like they'd dropped a bombshell, and they'd waited until the last possible moment to press the trigger." Peter was being represented by the British Medical Association union who told him they would not cover costs. Fortunately for the interests of justice, and t...

"If they don't do anything there's no hope..." In March 2016 UHMBT bosses told whistle-blower Peter Duffy that solitary kidney patient Jeff Parker was angry at Peter for informing him Ash Jain had claimed he colluded with another patient to refuse a stent which would have prevented him from going into kidney failure. They suggested to Peter that HE might be the focus of impending litigation by the patient. They suggest Peter was wrong to blow the whistle. Three years on that patient, Jeff Parker, listens to this recording for the first time and has given his response.

Trust bosses reprimand Peter Duffy for whistle-blowing In a meeting with UHMBT's then medical director David Walker and clinical director Ameeta Joshi whistle-blower was criticised for raising concerns after his former colleague Ashutosh Jain allegedly LIED about patients to cover-up his own mistakes. The two patients said trust bosses told them Mr Jain had accused them of colluding to refuse to have a stent inserted. Mr Duffy, who saved one of the patients' lives by rushing him into theatre, was then called into a meeting with bosses who claimed the patient blamed HIM...

Chris Dickson 'surprises Maisy by coming home from hospital early' After reporting on Chris Dickson's successful cystectomy at the Royal Blackburn Hospital the story was picked up by the Daily Star, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Metro, The Sun and Lad Bible. https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/girl-8-bursts-tears-dad-20526717?fbclid=IwAR3rZXZM7NlenEetQ2ZFItfuqeP_rusPCQLlzM7-EJQdIqZGLK9Ch2RncjM https://metro.co.uk/2019/10/06/emotional-moment-daughter-8-told-dad-cancer-free-10870904/?fbclid=IwAR0u3kiMoKn1pmC2JQ9sAJy0odQk6-ryTUdS4vPpN7oi--OHbpMHDyos0fM https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/father-surprises-daughter-news-hes-20527068?fbclid=IwAR3IYxXqAmD77UDU0WQT7gefTBdgLjl8jPwZizOQF48yOWNKsP2YihnbQ84

Reporter one of four shortlisted for 'News Reporter of the Year' Amy Fenton in this year’s O2 Media Awards North West list of finalists. In a record breaking year more than 420 entries were received across the different categories. “The O2s showcase excellence in news, sport, entertainment, social and community media and applaud the growth of creative industries in the North West. Whether it’s writers delivering grassroots journalism or programme makers winning national acclaim, the awards highlight the impact the media has on our communities,” said Nicola Green, Director of Corporate Affairs at O2. This year’s presentation evening will be held at the AJ Bell Stadium in Salford, Manchester, on Thursday, November 7. BBC Breakfast’s Louise Minchin and Dave Massey, O2’s Senior Corporate Communications Manager, will host the evening.

Finally some progress... Today UHMBT confirmed that NHS Improvement/England has agreed to commission an external investigation into the urology department. It's not quite the public inquiry which MPs, patients and families have been calling for but at the very least it's some progress. The only concern about NHSI/E commissioning this review is that in 2017 that very same organisation accepted former UHMBT medical director David Walker's insistence that "everything was fine". But ultimately, the world will be watching, particularly myself, and I don't doubt that the patients who have come forward to date will make sure that they are involved in the whole process. This investigation must not leave any stone unturned.  This investigation must not be restricted to the concerns raised in Peter Duffy's book.  This investigation must look into the ongoing issues relating to current employees of UHMBT. This investigation must delve deeper tha...