Health Board Inquiry

So there is to be no public inquiry into the allegations of bullying in Western Isles NHS Board.

This was signalled a few weeks back when our MSP erroneously stated that these matters had been covered in the Parliamentary Inquiry. No doubt the NHS staff feel badly let down by both Mr Allan and his predecessor Mr Morrison over their (mis)handling of the situation, and their decisions to accept the instructions from their parties to sweep all this under the carpet.

It is not that a Public Inquiry would have done a huge amount except further embarrass the senior management who allowed the situation to develop; and possibly shed some light on the appointment process that created the situation in the first place.

But, it would have given the staff some sense of relief - and seriously boosted their morale - to have their position vindicated; those who were bullied would be relieved; and the threat of public humiliation would hang over any management who allowed such a situation to ever develop again.

Of course, it might also have caused light to be shone on the packages paid to staff who were unfairly or constructively dismissed; those who were moved elsewhere to non-jobs in the NHS; and (perhaps most importantly) over the advice given by Civil Servants to Ministers and the Board.

Cover-up anyone?