BBC News Online: UK: Scotland

Survey reveals bullying in NHS

Aberdeen Royal was included in the survey

Research, commissioned by Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, has found "undue pressure to produce work" as the main cause of bullying.

The survey was commissioned to find out the extent of bullying and harassment within the trust.

The trust looks after nine units in the north-east of the country, including Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Some 3,000 staff were sent survey forms, and of the 2,000 who responded just under half reported one or more types of bullying.

Undue pressure being put on staff was the biggest complaint, while the withholding of information was another issue which has caused staff stress.

Doctors, technical staff and managers were identified as the groups most at risk of bullying.

The Grampian Trust said the findings would be used to update its existing policy on harassment.

It said concerns were taken very seriously and investigated fully.

Unison's Jim Devine said: "It is unprecedented. Surveys that we have carried out show bullying levels at one in four, one in five.

"We have certainly never had one which has shown bullying incidents of around one in two, but I think it is indicative of the problems which confront the NHS today."

The Scottish Executive said bullying was not acceptable and it issued guidelines in January to trusts on dealing with the problem.