"We'll continue to listen," say DRI bosses as 4,000 staff have say on hospital

Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has shared the results of the latest NHS Staff Survey, providing an important insight into day-to-day life across the organisation’s hospitals and services.

The survey is carried out independently and anonymously by research organisation IQVIA, allowing colleagues to speak openly about their experiences at work and helping the organisation understand both its strengths and where improvements are needed.

It comes after a number of recent issues at the Trust including the firing of senior medic Dr Tim Noble who flagged up concerns about bullying and harassment, a damning report on the state of the Trust’s audiology services department which said children had been harmed and an unnanounced inspection of the DRI’s A&E department over concerns patients were being put at risk.

The results show the Trust, which operates hospitals in both South Yorkshire and North Nottinghamshire, is performing above the benchmark for six of the seven areas used across the NHS to understand workforce experience.

These include whether colleagues feel respected at work and feel safe and supported in their roles. The Trust is in line with the average in the seventh area, which focuses on teamwork.

Colleagues responding to the survey highlighted strong opportunities for learning and development, progress with flexible working, and positive experiences around health, safety and wellbeing at work.

Many also reported feeling supported by their immediate teams and managers, with overall morale comparing favourably with similar NHS organisations and survey measures such as bullying and harassment also remaining lower than in comparable organisations nationally.

The survey also highlights areas where further progress is needed.

Feedback around engagement, involvement in decisions and whether colleagues feel comfortable raising concerns will help shape the Trust’s priorities over the coming months, with a focus on strengthening communication and involving teams more closely the development of improvements within services.

Mark Bailey, Interim Chair of the Board at DBTH, said: "We are very grateful to the almost 4,000 colleagues who took the time to share their experiences.

"Because the survey is anonymous and independently run, it gives people the confidence to be open and candid about what it is really like to work here, and we genuinely value that honesty.

“This survey builds on the work we have already been doing to listen to colleagues through previous surveys and engagement across the organisation. Together, it gives us a rich insight into the experiences of services, staff groups and individuals, helping us better understand where things are working well and where more attention, and action, is needed.

“It is encouraging to see our Trust comparing favourably with similar organisations across many of the national measures of colleague experience. At the same time, results like this never mean the work is finished. We will continue to build on the many positive things colleagues have highlighted, while also focusing on areas where particular teams or groups feel their experience could be better."

The findings will inform wider cultural work beginning across the organisation in the coming weeks to better understand colleagues’ experiences and respond to the survey findings in a coordinated and meaningful way.

Mark added: “Alongside colleagues across the Trust, the Board of Directors will look carefully at these findings alongside how our services are performing, because the experience of our colleagues is closely linked to the care we provide for patients and the communities we serve.

“We will continue to listen to colleagues and act on what they tell us as we work to make our Trust the best possible place to work and receive care.”

The NHS Staff Survey takes place every year, and colleagues will have another opportunity to share their experiences when the next survey opens in September.

Earlier this year, an exhausted and furious staff member at the hospital said the A&E department was no longer safe after health watchdogs carried out an unannounced, snap inspection following “concerns about risks to people.”

Officers from the Care Quality Commission carried out a snap inspection before Christmas and a spokesperson, said: “Following concerns received about risks to people, CQC carried out an inspection of urgent and emergency services at Doncaster Royal Infirmary, part of Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, on 8 and 9 December.

“The findings from that inspection will be published in a report on CQC’s website when it’s been through the usual quality assurance processes.

“CQC’s priority, at all times, is the health and wellbeing of people using health and social care services, and all information we receive informs our monitoring of services and future inspections.”

In January, a senior Doncaster doctor suspended for more than a year after raising concerns about bullying and harassment at Doncaster Royal Infirmary was fired.

Dr Tim Noble, who had been excluded from his role as medical director since September 2024 and had flagged up concerns about bullying and harassment and “ toxic culture,” was dismissed.

A letter sent to staff read; “After a full and independent process, a decision has been made to dismiss Executive Medical Director, Dr Tim Noble, from the organisation with immediate effect.

"Until now, we haven’t commented publicly. That was to protect the fairness of the process and the privacy of everyone involved.

“This decision follows an exhaustive, multi-stage process in line with Trust policies, NHS guidance and employment law.

"At every step, the aim was to make sure the process was fair, carefully handled, and independent.

"To this end, a panel with no previous connection to the matter, the organisation, or those involved, reviewed the facts and made an impartial, dispassionate judgment without fear or favour.

"The outcome reflects the full findings of that independent process, recommendation and the conclusion that the employment relationship had broken down irreparably.

"At a senior level, where trust and alignment are critical, that breakdown meant the situation, unfortunately, was no longer compatible with the responsibilities of leadership or the working environment required to both support and direct the delivery of safe, effective care for our patients and communities.

"We want to recognise Dr Noble's contribution since joining the Trust in 2006. We are grateful for his service, and it is a matter of real regret that this could not be resolved differently.

And before Christmas, a damning report said delays in audiology services had harmed a number of children.

DBTH paused audiology appointments in September 2024 to implement improvements in its service.

Figures revealed that 11 children had received moderate harm, one was severely harmed and that 13 had received low harm.