Troubling findings at The Christie
A recent NHS report highlights bullying, plus the rest of your weekly briefing
Dear Millers — we hope you survived the weekend weather. We’ve got some interesting news about The Christie hospital in today’s edition, plus an interesting MEN report into youth crime and a spacious Home of the Week in Salford.
On Saturday, we published a piece about the lucrative world of pigeon racing. We met Salford man Les Green, who is one of the UK’s most successful pigeon racers. You can that piece here.
Last week, members got stories about a Bury woman searching for her lost sister, who she fears is buried in a sewage tank, and an exclusive story about a Labour council candidate getting suspended. To read those, hit that button below if you’re not already a Mill member.
This week’s weather 🌦
Our weather forecast comes from local weatherman Martin Miles, who says: “Mild and windy week of weather is on the way. Several weather fronts will sweep through to bring us rain at times as well. There are no signs of a prolonged cold spell.”
Monday ⚠️ Windy with gusts over 30mph during the morning and early afternoon. There will be sunny spells, but also the occasional blustery shower. High 7°c.
Tuesday 🌧 Windy with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle. Wind gusts will occasionally exceed 35mph. Skies will be cloudy throughout the day. High 12°c.
Wednesday 🌧 Not as windy as Tuesday, but there will be further periods of light rain and drizzle. High 11°c.
Thursday 🌦 A slightly cooler day with a better chance of seeing a few breaks in the cloud. Rain will arrive later in the afternoon/early evening on a cold front. High 9°c.
Friday 🌦 Windy with a mix of sunny spells and wintry showers. Colder than of late. High 5°c.
Weekend ⛅ Milder air will return, however, wet and windy weather is likely as weather fronts arrive off the Atlantic, driven by an active jet stream.
For the full forecast visit Manchester Weather, which posts forecasts daily at 6.15am.
The big story: Troubling findings at The Christie
Top line: A review of The Christie found its research and innovation division "ineffective," and said it "allowed inappropriate behaviours to continue without challenge". The review into Manchester’s famous cancer trust was conducted by NHS England and has been heavily disputed by the hospital itself.
The report summarised the experience of 20 staff, saying that “an experience of bullying, harassment and racial prejudice was described along with lack of respect at work," however the review made no clear judgement on whether the claims were justified. It also said:
There was a culture that makes it difficult for staff to raise concerns.
Multiple staff members felt speaking out was to their detriment. In some cases, staff felt their only option was to resign as a result.
The Christie's response has been bullish. They stressed there were no concerns raised about the quality of patient care and said the complaints came from a small number of dissatisfied staff. The trust said:
There are a number of comments in the report which the board of directors believes are not accurate and for which the evidence base has not been provided.
On The Christie’s response, one source messaged Lawrence Dunhill, a Health Service Journal reporter, saying:
They'll always reply like that as they think they’re better than any other org… I used to work there, raised concerns numerous times & eventually left my job due to stress/bullying. The culture is terrible.
We spoke to Dunhill, who covered the report's publication. He said: "most trusts take the position that 'we need to take this as a learning opportunity.’ They normally take the moral high ground, and are quite humble in their responses." But, in The Christie's response "there's none of that, and it kind of reinforces the criticisms NHSE have raised”.
🕵️♂️ Grist to The Mill: If you want to tell us about a story or pass on some information, please email jack@manchestermill.co.uk, dani@manchestermill.co.uk or joshi@manchestermill.co.uk. We are always happy to speak to people off the record in the first instance, and we will treat your information with confidence and sensitivity. Get in touch.
Home of the week
This spacious 5-bed house in Salford is in need of updating, so perfect for interior design enthusiasts to put their stamp on. It’s on the market for £380,000.
Other local news in brief
Greenwood: Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood was arrested on suspicion of rape and assault yesterday evening. It comes after recordings of his alleged abuse were shared on social media. More here.
Levelling up: Greater Manchester is one of seven authorities set to share £120 million of funding to help transform derelict brownfield sites into housing. It is part of a £1.8 billion brownfield regeneration fund. More here.
UAE: Asad Shamim, a Rochdale businessman, has been appointed senior advisor to one of the United Arab Emirates ruling families. He will work for Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal Al Qasimi, advising on UAE and UK investments. More here.
Covid-19 update: Rates of Covid-19 continue to fall across GM. The case rate for Greater Manchester is 703.7, down 17.2%, compared to England’s 971.6, down 2.5%. Rates are highest in Tameside, around 900, and lowest in Oldham, around 700.
Our favourite reads
A tin of beans donated to a food bank with a tale to tell about the cost of living crisis — i Paper
This insightful article follows the journey of a tin of beans as it makes its way from a supermarket to a Bolton food bank. “Welling up with tears, one father-of-four describes how he is working in a pizza shop and had plenty of hours during peak season. But when January arrived, his hours were cut to his three-hour contract leaving him struggling to pay his bills and feed his family.”
Children killing children: Inside Greater Manchester’s teen knife crime epidemic — Manchester Evening News
This report from the MEN takes a look at what’s driving youth crime. “Free from the gaze of the magistrates, the teenager opens up and tells a story which gets to the heart of why knife violence among young boys is soaring in Greater Manchester. It is a story about the toxic mix of entrenched deprivation, self-perpetuating fear and a high-stakes gang culture inflamed by social media which is driving knife-carrying into many different corners of the region, from the classroom to the bus stop.”
Art, AIDS and Alchemy: The legacy of Derek Jarman — Euronews Culture
We enjoyed this piece about Derek Jarman, on what would have been his 80th birthday. His work is being exhibited at Manchester Art Gallery. “Jarman's vision was also always minutely detailed. From dancers around a bed floating in the sea in ‘The Garden’ to a street hustler dressing up as Bacchus in ‘Caravaggio’ each scene is beautifully realised.”
'After the sadness came the anger' — The Post
This insightful and in-depth piece from our sister newsletter The Post examines the issue of domestic abuse on Merseyside, and whether the strong words from local leaders is being matched with action. “Caroline Grant was paying attention. She remembers learning about the three deaths in the days after and she remembers exactly how she felt. ‘After the sadness came the anger, and it surged through every part of my body,’ she told me when we spoke for the first time last November.”
Our to do list
🍷 Eat & Drink | Le Social is opening a wine bar and tasting room at Pollard Yard in Ancoats. Enjoy a variety of handpicked organic and natural wines and tasty plates. More here.
🗣 Poetry | There’s a spoken word event at The Kings Arms in Salford this evening. Book here.
😊 Social | Bad Mum Club is taking place in Middleton on Thursday. There’ll be a clothes swap plus stalls from local indie businesses. Book here.
📽 Movie | IndieFlicks Monthly returns to Chapeltown Picture House. It runs every Wednesday — expect a varied selection of short films. Book here.
😂 Comedy | Didsbury Comedy Club is back on Saturday. First-timer to the club is the “wonderfully funny” Garrett Millerick. Book here.
🎶 Music | Music organiser Hope Valley is showcasing a night of Afrobeat music on Tuesday in the city centre. Book here.
🏨 Tour | There’s going to be a free tour of Strangeways Prison by New Manchester Walks on Saturday. Learn about its infamous inmates and fascinating history. Book here.
🎧 Listen in
Our latest podcast episode dropped last week — if you haven’t had a chance to listen, you can here on Apple Podcasts and here on Spotify. Dani spoke to Darryl about Annette McKay — whose mother gave birth at one of Ireland’s mother and baby homes — and her search for the sister she’s never met.
Are you writing about a situation that occured several years ago?
It would be interesting to know how staff feel who are working there now.