Dr. Martyn Pitman, a former consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, who spent 20 years at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester. Yet he has now found himself dismissed after having the courage to blow the whistle on serious patient safety issues. He alleged that staffing levels were too low. He found that putting natural births ahead of c-sections risked endangering patient choice and more importantly, c-section patient safety. He is a passionate advocate for patient-centered care. The tribunal found that it was his manner of communication, not the content of his criticisms, that was the true motivating factor in his termination.
Dr. Pitman sounded the horn on what he called “dangerously low staffing levels” operating within RHCH’s midwifery team. He told us that management brushed aside these concerns out of concern for potential reputational harm to the trust. As things grew worse, he was driven to whistle-blow on all of this under the Public Interest Disclosure Act.
In a Southampton tribunal, Dr. Pitman recounted a deteriorating morale within the midwifery team up to spring 2019, indicating an environment that was increasingly difficult for staff. The tribunal rejected his whistleblowing claim. They admitted this man had raised some valid concerns, but since he was a jerk in the way he communicated that message he was finally shown the door.
“My decision to whistleblow patient and staff safety concerns at the trust has cost me very dearly, and I am faced with the brutal reality of losing the career I have cherished.” – Dr. Martyn Pitman
The decision has since sent Dr. Pitman back to the drawing board in terms of dealing with the fallout from his choice. Now, he must confront the grim prospect of losing a classroom where he poured his heart and soul for 20 years. His distinct unfair dismissal claim remains ongoing. He is scheduled to meet with his legal team and the British Medical Association to consider what next steps might be.
Though Dr. Pitman’s journey has been difficult, he is undeterred in his mission to provide safe, quality medical care. He stated,
“I have dedicated my entire career, particularly my two decades as a consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, to the provision of safe, evidence-based and patient-centred care for those individuals who I have had the privilege and responsibility to look after.” – Dr. Martyn Pitman
As one senior person at Hampshire Foundation Trust put it, … ‘The imperative is simple… They made sure to put it in context—that the problems arise not from the concerns raised by Dr. Pitman but from disruptive behavior and a total breakdown in working relationships. They emphasized that such issues can lead to life-threatening consequences in a clinical environment.
“Our issue was never about the concerns raised by Mr. Pitman, but about concerns raised by others of disruptive behaviour and then a breakdown in working relationships.”