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Inquiry orders NHS organisations to draw up guidance for managers’ roles, following nurse's suicide

Amin Abdullah experienced mental health problems after an unfair dismissal process
Amin Abdullah died in February 2016. Picture: Dave Marriott

Amin Abdullah experienced mental health problems after an unfair dismissal process

 Dave Marriott
Amin Abdullah died in February 2016 Picture: Dave Marriott

NHS bodies have been asked to urgently draw up guidance for managers, following the death by suicide of a nurse who set himself alight after losing his job over a disciplinary matter.

Deputy ward manager Amin Abdullah died close to Kensington Palace in London in February 2016, weeks after an unfair dismissal process at Charing Cross Hospital in London.

Mr Abdullah became depressed when ordered to leave his job and was due to appeal against the decision just two days later.

An independent inquiry identified serious procedural errors throughout the disciplinary process, and found Mr Abdullah was treated ‘unfairly’ and ‘very poorly’, which severely affected his mental health.

An advisory group subsequently recommended NHS bodies review guidance relating to ‘the management and conduct of local investigations and disciplinary procedures, to ensure fairness, consistency and alignment’.

‘Nurses in management played key role’

NHS Improvement’s chief people officer Prerana Issar has written to 41 NHS bodies asking them to urgently draw up guidance for members who take on management roles.

Mr Abdullah's partner Terry Skitmore said: ‘I am pleased that professional and regulatory bodies have been asked to draw up guidance for their members, as it was nurses in management roles who played a key role in the terrible injustice that Amin suffered and which ultimately led him to die by suicide after his grossly unfair dismissal.’

‘The NHS lost a truly dedicated nurse in Amin, and we simply cannot afford to treat NHS staff in this way.’

It is expected the guidance will be produced by spring 2020.

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said, at the time of the independent inquiry, it would overhaul its disciplinary processes in light of the findings. The trust chief executive offered a personal apology.

For confidential support on mental health, call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit the Samaritans website


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