[Trinity]

Hi guys,
Please take the trouble to read this and sign the petition, every little helps!
(possibly not the best advert for socialised healthcare though!)
Thanks!
Trin XXX

Margaret Haywood, was struck off the nursing register last week as she had taken part in a Panorama programme exposing the appalling conditions in her local hospital. This whistle blowing was long overdue and has resulted in some positive changes in patient care but sadly it resulted in the end of Margaret Haywood's career.


Please support her in hopefully being reinstated by signing this RCN petition open to ALL. She put her own job on the line so that patients got better hospital care in the future. As potential patients this affects every one of us and our families and friends.


A message from Peter Carter

Dear RCN members, friends and colleagues,
Last week, many of you will have seen extensive media coverage aro und RCN member Margaret Haywood who was removed from the nursing register for breaking patient confidentiality. Margaret took part in undercover filming as part of a BBC Panorama documentary in 2005 which exposed poor care at the Trust she worked at.
Margaret has been supported by the RCN since charges were brought in relation to her participation in the Panorama programme. Whilst the RCN cannot condone breaking patient confidentiality, we feel that the decision taken by the NMC to remove Margaret from the nursing register was unduly harsh.

The RCN would always encourage members to raise any concerns they may have about patient care with their employer in the first instance. However, if members do not feel able to do this for any reason then they should contact the RCN as a matter of urgency and we will take action on their behalf.

In consultation with Margaret, I am currently working with the RCN’s Director of Legal Services, Chris Cox, and Margaret’s barrister to look at the legal options around the NMC’s decision. Although we are not able to make public the detail of these discussions at this stage, we are investigating what grounds there may be for an appeal. If an appeal does go ahead it will have to be lodged within 28 days of the NMC’s decision to remove Margaret from the register.

In order to gauge the feeling around Margaret’s removal from the register, the RCN has set up an online petition. This is open to anyone that would like to show their support for Margaret. Due to the fact that the petition is aimed at gathering views from the general public and the nursing profession, I don’t feel that it would be appropriate for RCN staff members, myself included, to sign the petition. However, please be reassured that the RCN is vigorously defending Margaret and supporting her at this time.
The petition can be found at: www.gopetition.com/online/27030.html.
Yours sincerely
Peter Carter
Chief Executive & General Secretary
Royal College Of Nursing

Some more info: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_...icle6106326.ece

This post has been edited by trinity: 01 May 2009 - 11:28 AM

[greybeard]

Done. I hope everyone else signs - it doesn't matter where you are - it's a principle you are defending. It was a ridiculous, callous, decision by self-righteous bigots and must be overturned.

This post has been edited by greybeard: 01 May 2009 - 11:51 AM

[msg]

I've just signed as well. Hopefully lots more will. She did not deserve to have her career cut short.

[alex4bs]

siged today nursing is worth its wieght in gold it showes treated like mushrooms keep it in the dark a when you bring into the open you get your head chopped off, damnend shame.>>>alex

[StillFingers]

Done Trinity.

What a bit of rubbish, removing her from the register. I hope my yank signature will help, the one thing we do need is caring people in this world.

Jerry

[Hapahowlee]

Just signed it Trin! I hope the woman gets her job back. The healthcare world needs caring people like her and you too

[jules]

Just signed too

[edlee]

Maybe it's my cynical nature, but,,, was she paid to do this filming and if so, how much?

We have a thing, over here, called HIPA, that strictly prohibits anyone in the health care community from giving out any information about any patient, without PRIOR written permission. They can't even tell anyone you are in the hospital unless you agree, in writing.

People are losing their jobs over this every week, and the lawsuits over disclosures are rampant.

On the other hand, we also have whistleblower laws that can protect people like her,,, IF they don't break laws doing the deed.

Hopefully she will get public opinion on her side,,, if she deserves it,, but I doubt that some guy from the US signing a petition will do much to help.

But , What the hell,, I'll sign it anyway,,, I'll take your word for it, Trin.
ed

[Trinity]

edlee, on May 3 2009, 04:42 AM, said:

Maybe it's my cynical nature, but,,, was she paid to do this filming and if so, how much?

We have a thing, over here, called HIPA, that strictly prohibits anyone in the health care community from giving out any information about any patient, without PRIOR written permission. They can't even tell anyone you are in the hospital unless you agree, in writing.

People are losing their jobs over this every week, and the lawsuits over disclosures are rampant.

On the other hand, we also have whistleblower laws that can protect people like her,,, IF they don't break laws doing the deed.

Hopefully she will get public opinion on her side,,, if she deserves it,, but I doubt that some guy from the US signing a petition will do much to help.

But , What the hell,, I'll sign it anyway,,, I'll take your word for it, Trin.
ed

I am not aware if she got paid for the filming or not.

The confidentiality thing was the issue and one of the reasons why she was struck off however permission was gained before any of the filming was shown. For anyone who didn't see the programme it really was shocking, the change it brought about was huge in an area of nursing that cares for some of the most vulnerable patients.

Whether she went about it in the right way or not will always be a matter for debate. It was only right that there was a hearing surrounding her acts however it is widely regarded that the punishment was unduly hard.

Whether the petition makes any difference is anyones guess but the show of public support towards her is huge. She has one month to appeal the decision, I for one hopes she does. People have done a lot worse for lesser punishment.

[bobm]

Thank you, T, for spotting this; petition signed.

[edlee]

I've always been a believer in the concept of making the punishment fit the crime. And I also believe that very often the idea of "privacy" being sacred is pushed a bit too far.

Intent should always be a criteria, as a health care professional,,, it was her duty to protect the patients,,, her aid in the filming certainly was with that in mind.

If she did it for monetary gain, then make that fit,,, if she did it for the patients,, consider that as well.

One size fits all is not what we pay judges for.
ed