Whistleblower thrown off course | Winston Solicitors Skip to main content
Legal news

Whistleblower thrown off course

Jonathan Winston Jonathan Winston
2 min read

A student nurse who complained about the poor treatment of elderly patients at Stafford Hospital has been forced off her training course.

Barbara Allatt told of a ‘culture of bullying’ during placements at Stafford Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital, both part of the Mid-Staffordshire NHS Trust which was the subject of an inquiry into between 400 and 1,200 unexpected deaths at the trust between 2005 and 2008.

Two years after the inquiry, Miss Allatt reported seeing colleagues leave patients in soiled sheets, shout at dementia sufferers and secretly slip sedatives into a cup of tea. She reported her concerns to university tutors, hospital mentors and senior nurses but claims she was ‘fobbed off’.

She had been a good student who had passed her exams and received glowing reports from her work placements but in January she was suspended due to her ‘behaviour, attitude and fitness to practice’. She was supported by the Royal College of Nursing but lost two appeals and subsequently lost her place on the course.

Miss Allatt is planning to sue the university for breaching the Public Interest Disclosure Act which is aimed at protecting whistleblowers. She also intends taking legal action against the trust for bullying.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1278533/The-nurse-victimised-whistleblower-Trainee-thrown-exposing-abuse-shamed-hospital.html

More Winston Solicitors news

Client feedback

Having used Winston Solicitors twice, once for the sale of a house and also for Probate. Both experiences were very good, and will be using again when the need arises.
Mike
Thank you for everything ! Excellent service & a pleasure to deal with. Would highly recommend. - July 2025
A Woodhead, Bradford
Thanks for your help, friendliness clear and prompt communication, it gave us confidence and helped the legal aspect of our process feel in a safe pair of hands. - July 2025
L Whitaker, Leeds
Overall, the service we have received has been excellent. We would highly recommend you to others. We will definitely use you again. - July 2025
D Wilkinson, Leeds
I was recommended Sidraa Razak, Winston solicitors for my house conveyancing. I found the service I received was excellent. Sidraa and Tom were communicative, responsive, and thorough. I found them friendly and supportive throughout the ups and downs of what can be a stressful time. Thank you
Diane
Very happy with the service
Jonathan
We used Wintson Solicitors for the purchase of our first home. The process was well explained and done quickly by Michelle. The rest of the team were also really quick to answer and help when Michelle was not available.
Anonymous
I decided to use Winston Solicitors's by recommendation from a work colleague who was impressed by their service. I was selling and buying a property and the the whole process was extremely efficient, and not at all as stressful as I had imagined it to be. Emails were quickly responded to and any queries by phone were answered straight away. Big thanks to Leasa and the team for their excellent service.
Anonymous
Contact Jonathan