MP reacts after local NHS whistle-blower found to be unfairly dismissed

Commenting on today's news that orthopaedic surgeon Shyam Kumar has won his tribunal case against the Care Quality Commission (CQC) after they were found to have unfairly dismissed him, local MP Tim Farron said: "It is deeply alarming that the Care Quality Commission - the body we are supposed to trust to protect patients and NHS staff - has been found guilty of wrongly dismissing a doctor who was raising serious safety concerns.

"I've been proud to support Dr Kumar as he's fought this case but sadly this is yet another example of a whistle-blower in our local NHS being treated appallingly.

"It is painfully clear that we need a complete culture change when it comes to how the NHS responds to staff who raise concerns about patient safety.

"This can only come about if the Trust and the CQC admit that they have been guilty of punishing whistle-blowers who were only seeking to do the right thing and protect patients.

"However I must say I'm not optimistic that this will happen as time and time again we see the Trust opting to cover up rather than actually treating the accusations with the seriousness that they deserve."