Margaret Haywood is true angel

2009-04-20T22:02:00.005+01:00

I have just signed a petition in support of Margaret Haywood. This nurse, has been struck off the nursing register for highlighting the poor treatment of hospital patients at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton. The Royal College of Nursing is considering an appeal against the decision of the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Peter Carter Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing Writes:

Dear Colleagues,

"Last week, many of you will have seen extensive media coverage around RCN member Margaret Haywood who was removed from the nursing register for breaking patient confidentiality. Margaret took part in undercover filming as part of a BBC Panorama documentary in 2005 which exposed poor care at the Trust she worked at.

Margaret has been supported by the RCN since charges were brought in relation to her participation in the Panorama programme. Whilst the RCN cannot condone breaking patient confidentiality, we feel that the decision taken by the NMC to remove Margaret from the nursing register was unduly harsh.

The RCN would always encourage members to raise any concerns they may have about patient care with their employer in the first instance. However, if members do not feel able to do this for any reason then they should contact the RCN as a matter of urgency and we will take action on their behalf.

In consultation with Margaret, I am currently working with the RCN's Director of Legal Services, Chris Cox, and Margaret's barrister to look at the legal options around the NMC's decision. Although we are not able to make public the detail of these discussions at this stage, we are investigating what grounds there may be for an appeal. If an appeal does go ahead it will have to be lodged within 28 days of the NMC's decision to remove Margaret from the register.

In order to gauge the feeling around Margaret's removal from the register, the RCN has set up an online petition. This is open to anyone that would like to show their support for Margaret. Due to the fact that the petition is aimed at gathering views from the general public and the nursing profession, I don't feel that it would be appropriate for RCN staff members, myself included, to sign the petition. However, please be reassured that the RCN is vigorously defending Margaret and supporting her at this time.

The petition can be found at: www.gopetition.com/online/27030.html.
Yours sincerely

Peter Carter

Chief Executive & General Secretary

The basis of the petition is We, the undersigned, wish to show our support for nurse Margaret Haywood who raised issues of concern around poor patient care.

We believe that Margaret was justified in exposing the worrying conditions at her local hospital and that the NMC was wrong to strike her off the nursing register.

It is a very sad day indeed when a courageous woman is so badly treated by her professional body. I believe she has provided a service, not only to the hospital patients, but also to the Brighton Hospital where the poor treatment occurred. I should have thought that the ethos at the Royal and Sussex would be commitment to excellence. Margaret Haywood should be given an award. Any chance of nominating her for an OBE?

Humanitarian Disaster - Gaza

2009-03-06T23:35:00.002Z

I was saddened by the refusal of the BBC to show the Disaster Emergency Committee’s Appeal for Gaza. Some weeks after the event I decided to show the video during the announcements at three of our church services. At one of the services I asked worshippers to put up their hand if they had seen the appeal before. I had not expected many to have seen it, but I was surprised that NOBODY AT ALL had seen it!

One senior British politician said that the refusal to air this appeal would cost lives. I agree, and I cannot think of a worthier first post for my blog.

It was equally saddening to learn that the BBC Trust upheld the decision of the BBC, principally on the basis that they would be showing only one side of a divisive and ongoing situation. While I appreciate the need for impartiality in the BBC I would have thought that the number of dead on both sides (1300 against 13) would render the need for impartiality irrelevant. Similarly, the destruction of infrastructure in Gaza, would also highlight a humanitarian disaster, my point being that one group is undergoing a disaster which needs help and the other is not.

I am in no way condoning (and neither does the DEC Appeal) the rocket attacks on Israel, that precipitated this conflict and continued during it, but I believe that the response by Israel can only be described as disproportionate. I may address the moral and legal issues at a later date but to do so now would detract from the legitimacy of the appeal. Hopefully this will also be addressed by the international community in the days to come.

Regardless of blame, the situation in Gaza, still the main appeal by the Disasters Emergency Committee, is one that needs your help.

Take a look at the video for yourself and see whether you agree with the BBC decision or not…

The contact details on the video are still accurate and still live.

YOU CAN STILL CONTRIBUTE.

Donald Michael

Margaret Haywood is true angel

Humanitarian Disaster - Gaza