My Dad blew the whistle
in the NHS
Q- ‘What’s the
difference between a referee and the NHS?’
A-‘In the NHS the
whistleblowers get the red card’
There is something I've been meaning to write for a bit
now……something which as far as I’m aware on my travels in electronic wonderland,
has not been written about before. I am in the family of a whistleblower
in the NHS. In the growing cannon surrounding these people, at one turn utterly
depressing the next so uplifting, this is the one voice which is yet to be
heard.
So, what to say? Well firstly, the whistleblower is my Dad, a paediatrician. Many of those who follow me on twitter will know
who he is. I won’t name him…..just yet.
How did it all begin? For me it began as a growing realization that something was wrong. Dad had been working hard for years. I
mean really working hard. I had left home long ago and only saw him three or
four times a year but each time I did see him he was noticeably more worn, a
little more distracted, and deeply, deeply tired. He would often fall
asleep halfway through the evening or on weekend afternoons when we were together.
I was worried about him. We his children joked about it sometimes, but we all
were. Then, this decline suddenly began to accelerate. It came to a head when
my Mum turned 60. To celebrate, Mum and Dad took us all away, their children
our spouses and their grandchildren to a lovely place in Derbyshire for a few
days. We had a great time. But, Dad…..Dad looked worse than ever. I talked to
Mum and told her, again, that Dad needed to retire early…He had already said he was going to drop some of the more senior management stuff they had thrust upon him (he’d never really
wanted to do this and was only given 3 hours a week for it, the next incumbent
did it full time). To be honest I didn't know what the hell he was doing. I didn't care really, I just wanted him to stop.
Shortly afterwards, he phoned me.
“ I've been sacked
as clinical director.” He sounded terrible.
He didn't fully explain why. At that point I’m not even sure
that he knew the real reasons himself. He believed that he would be cleared and
receive an apology. He carried on with his clinical work.
And so it began in earnest. Willing or otherwise (both were
represented) we, his family, were all pulled into his world….we followed in
real time as the story built. He spoke out again and again (the details are shocking;
you may hear more about them shortly in the news). He was investigated
internally and cleared, He was suspended from work (aren't they all?). He was
accused of being deranged (a common tactic) and without his knowledge an
appointment with a psychiatrist made. He was threatened (eventually they all
are, in one way or another).He was investigated externally and largely exonerated
through what can only be described as a corrupted process. He was bribed with familiar bait (a huge payoff and a better pension) and a familiar hook (leave now and sign a
gagging clause). He withstood it all, and he called them out on every wrong move
they made. That was raging against the dying of the light if ever it was to be
seen, professionally speaking ….they really didn't like that, so they sacked
him.
What drove him? What sustained him? Who knows? I sure as
hell don’t. I like to think of myself as a good person but I know I would never
have trod that particular narrow path and if by some bizarre glitch in my moral
GPS I had stumbled onto it by accident …..I would have taken the money. Yes I fucking would. Maybe that steel comes
with age. I hope so, but I doubt it
.
He rollercoastered the emotional peaks and troughs. He
became properly ill. Still, he dragged himself onwards and we were dragged with
him. I've no doubt it was worse for Mum than any of us. They've been married more
than 40 years and they still love each other. She was utterly faithful to him.
Not all of us were, completely. Some of us just wanted the whole thing to go
away. It was talked about, but he never wavered.
Me? I heard his side of the story, and I raged inside. I fantasized
humiliation and violence upon his assailants. I read the documents written
against him, I wavered. Could it be true? I thought about it long and deep. Was
he at fault? He is a man. He is not perfect. If he was in the wrong I would
still love him and tell him what I thought. Then I read some more and knew he
was right. And I know the man himself. He had devoted his life to the care of children.
He talked about them constantly. He fought time, and money, and sleep, and
other men and women for them. He was away from me and my siblings a lot…..part
of the reason I never wanted to become a doctor. Sure, some of this was to earn
a living and support us, he had chances to earn much more money though. As important
was the part of him that did it for his sick wards. That was always clear to
us. As a child I resented it. Overwhelmed by missing him one weekend that he
was on call I remember hiding in his car on a Monday morning to go with him to
work. When I jumped out from behind the driver’s seat as he parked at the
hospital he laughed and took me in. A day with my Dad I’ll never forget.
One of my great heroes and inspirations was the author and
conservationist Gerald Durrell. His mentor in the natural world was the Greek
scholar and polymath, Theodore Stephanides. When Theo died Gerald said of him. “He
could have been a great man in public, but he chose to be a greater man in
private”. This wonderful tribute describes what my Dad has done perfectly. The
people who know him best know it. It doesn't matter that others don’t, but it
is my fervent prayer that everything he has fought for concerning the protection
of sick children and those who care for them comes to pass.
I'd be proud of him too if he was my father - oh, so proud.
ReplyDeleteThanks Michelle...much appreciated..:-)
DeleteI reported "Doctor Deenesh Khoosal" to the police and GMC with the object of saving one other child from him.
ReplyDeleteHe committed criminal offences against me as a vulnerable minor back in 1982 and is still working as a psychiatrist with access to children.
I am publishing material on my blog which may be found by googling "a message to David Cameron from Kate Middleton"
Moral weakness is the constant threat and challenge.Standing by,listening to those who let you off the hook.Unfortunately it doesn't go away and you cant walk away from it.You just pray to god you dont have to stand up and be counted 'cos it's unbearable but sometimes there's nowhere else to go.The death of the soul/spirit is awful.To become 'less than'is almost a fate worse than death.Sometimes being true to yourself is the only thing to do where ersatz and dishonourable people are conniving.
ReplyDeleteYour father has real balls and I hope things will get better for him.
Thanks abacus....all true. Ill keep people posted one way or another via twitter. Should be some big media things happening shortly and then he has some court stuff coming up....He'll read this so will see your comment and I know he appreciates it.
DeleteFine words, Biggus. I too am the child (grandchild, sister, niece, take your pick) of NHS martyrs, all of whom took the job with their eyes wide open and their hearts on their sleeves. I recall my childhood with similar tales of absence, pride and sheer bewilderment at the sacrifices involved. I admire the courage of your father immensely. I also admire your courage in your own whistle-blowery and, for what it's worth, back you all the way.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate :-). We should have some kind of club for therapy....
ReplyDeleteNow there's an idea!
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