Mr. Tony Canavan:

On the specifics for the issues relating to bullying, we have a policy within the HSE called dignity at work that helps and guides managers when issues or allegations arise and that outlines the steps we should take. As a policy, it reflects good practice in the sense that it attempts to address issues at the lowest level before they become more serious or embedded, at which point they become more difficult to resolve. It also tries to provide for the resolution of these issues at the lowest possible level in order that they do not rise to a senior management scenario. Again, the more formal these situations get, the more difficult they are to resolve and the more damage that is done along the way. As a large organisation, we recognise that the potential for bullying to occur in the workplace is there. We have processes in place to deal with it when it arises in terms of both reporting and following through on the policy.

One of the shared concerns we have is that when the policy operates well, it operates quickly, resolutions are found quickly, issues are addressed and normal working relationships are restored. At times, however, these matters do become embedded. I am certainly familiar with a number of cases, without commenting on any specific case, where it has taken considerably longer for us to engage in an investigation and follow through on that. The difficulties that arise in those circumstances, particularly where there are multiple parties involves, is that we need to protect the rights of all the parties involved in that investigative process in the context of arriving at a resolution. When it gets to that stage, it can be quite difficult. Unfortunately, it does take a long time. Organisationally, we are also focused on trying to develop a culture where workplace bullying is not acceptable and where people understand the direct connection between civility, good working relationships within the workplace and good patient care. The way we relate to each other impacts directly on the care we provide. That is a work in progress, and it is going to take us some time to work it through across multiple settings.