A senior doctor at Doncaster Royal Infimary who has been suspended for more than a year, raised concerns about bullying and harassment, his union has said.

Last year, it was revealed there was a “culture of bullying” at DRI with a probe by the doctors’ union, the British Medical Association launched after fed-up staff lifted the lid on life within the Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The BMA says that Dr Tim Noble, who has been excluded from his role as medical director since September 2024, had flagged up concerns about bullying and harassment and “ toxic culture” at the Trust.

The Health Service Journal says the BMA claims his exclusion is unlawful as he has been prevented from returning to work.

Dr Tim Noble, who has been suspended from his role as medical director at Doncaster Royal Infirmary for more than a year, flagged up concerns about bullying, harrassment and a toxic culture at DRI, his union says. (Photo: DBTHT).

placeholder image — Dr Tim Noble, who has been suspended from his role as medical director at Doncaster Royal Infirmary for more than a year, flagged up concerns about bullying, harrassment and a toxic culture at DRI, his union says. (Photo: DBTHT).

It reported: “It is thought Dr Noble’s case is due to proceed to a formal disciplinary hearing at the trust this month, but the details, including any allegations, are not known.

"The union, and some other doctors at the trust, told HSJ Dr Noble’s situation reflected a wider leadership and culture problem at DBTH.”

Shazia Karim, BMA head of region for Yorkshire and North East, told HSJ: “It is wholly unacceptable for this to happen to a senior doctor who has served the trust for almost 20 years and has raised concerns in the public interest about bullying and harassment. It reflects a toxic culture within the trust that must be addressed.

“We believe his case exemplifies a disturbing pattern: when concerns about poor behaviour are raised, the trust responds not with openness but with disciplinary threats and attempts to silence.”

Ms Karim said there were “concerns across the trust regarding bullying and the loss of experienced and capable senior staff”, and “a growing and widespread loss of confidence in the trust’s senior leadership”.

Dr Noble was appointed in 2020 as medical director and information released at the time said: “The Medical Director is an incredibly important position within the Trust.

"As an executive director, the post-holder is responsible for the successful delivery of high quality patient care and treatment, and provides leadership to the organisation’s 600 medical, dental and surgical colleagues.”

Previously one of the Trust’s Deputy Medical Directors, he also oversaw the hospitals’ respiratory medicine service, as well as undertaking two Clinical Director posts from 2010 through to 2017.

He first started his career at DBTH in 2006 as a Consultant Respiratory Physician.

Last year, an unnamed medic lifted the lid on life at the Armthorpe Road hospital, saying: “I, like many other staff, am desperately concerned about the future of our hospitals under the current leadership.

"Sadly, there is a culture of bullying at Doncaster and Bassetlaw NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust.

"This has resulted in a high turnover of staff at a senior level, including executives, their deputies, managers and senior nurses.

"The treatment of some of these staff members has been appalling and has had a lasting effect on their mental health.”

The medic added: “There is a freedom to speak up process for staff to raise concerns about issues such as bullying, but many staff have found this ineffective.”

The whistle blower added: “Consultants are becoming increasingly frustrated. Many are thinking of leaving and some have already applied for positions elsewhere.

"We cannot afford to lose doctors. It will have a detrimental effect on patient care.”

An email from the British Medical Assocation which was reportedly sent to more than 400 staff and was seen by the Free Press said it was investigating claims of “bullying and harassment.”

It said: “Unfortunately, as is often seen within the NHS, those that speak up can find they are victimised for doing so.”

"We have a collective responsibility here to speak up and have a unified approach to eradicating bullying and harassment of this nature.”

A spokesperson at Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals said: “As a Trust, we take any allegations of bullying or inappropriate behaviour extremely seriously. It would not be appropriate to comment on any specific individual cases.”