Unfairly dismissed: the nurse who warned bosses of her patient safety fears

Patient death led whistleblower Linda Fairhall to speak out to her boss at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

A nurse with almost 40 years’ experience was unfairly dismissed after attempting to start a whistleblowing process following the death of a patient, an employment tribunal ruled.

Linda Fairhall, who had previously been commended by the Care Quality Commission and the Nursing and Midwifery Council for the way she managed her team, raised concerns with managers about increasing workload.

A history of reporting safe staffing concerns

Ms Fairhall, who worked for North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, was a clinical care co-ordinator for a district nursing team of around 50 employees.

But she was suspended and eventually dismissed after stating her intention to whistleblow about staff being over-worked.

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