MORE than 100 people working across NHS Highland have so far come forward to make allegations of bullying there, according to the four doctors who initially made the claims.

Now the whistleblowers have written to Paul Gray, chief executive of NHS Scotland, calling for a public inquiry, independent of the health board.

The claims by Dr Eileen Anderson, Dr Lorien Cameron-Ross, Dr Jonathan Ball and Dr Iain Kennedy were made public last month, and indicated that the “bullying culture” had existed for more than a decade, affecting more than just the medical staff.

People working in other areas had come forward with similar claims, with one telling The National: “This behaviour goes to the very top of the organisation.”

Another said: “I’m very surprised at the number and the gravity of these claims.”

The clinicians said the bullying had resulted in a high turnover of staff at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness and Fort William’s Belford Hospital.

Gavin Smith, from the union, said: “GMB has been collating statements from people affected by bullying within NHS Highland. A large number of people across a wide range of job roles have come forward to give evidence.”

He joined the clinicians’ call for a public inquiry. In their letter to Gray, they said: “Over the past decade, numerous attempts to disclose the bullying culture in NHS Highland have been thwarted.

“While the chair of NHS Highland has expressed a desire to meet with the four doctors who made the disclosure statement of Monday September 24, we have found it difficult to envisage how this would move things forward, given the fate that has befallen many others who have raised bullying within NHS Highland over a number of years.”

They said they acknowledged “the need for constructive dialogue” locally, and that there should be “satisfactory internal processes” to enable boards to “investigate and instigate remedial action” where bullying has been identified. The doctors added: “Given the large number of victims who are coming forward [already more than 100] and their wide range of occupations, we feel the only credible way that their pain and distress can be heard and represented is through a public inquiry, preferably undertaken by a QC or judge, that is completely independent of the board of NHS Highland.

“There are more victims waiting in the wings to see if it will be safe for them to come forward, after we have met with you.”

They also agreed to an informal and confidential meeting next week, with several senior medical managers at NHS Highland.

NHS Highland’s board discussed the claims yesterday and said later that their offer to meet the clinicians remained open.

“There is clearly an issue of some sort which needs to be understood,” they said in a statement.

“We are of the firm opinion that it is surely in everyone’s interest for any allegations to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”

Dawne Bloodworth, NHS Highland’s interim HR director, said internal evidence painted a different picture from what was being alleged.

She said: “There is no evidence that I have seen to date that indicates that the four doctors represent the views of all GPs and consultants. Indeed, some clinicians have raised concerns to this effect.”