Although I support the concept of public service broadcasting, this does strike me as rather underhand, and disappointing that two vital public sector institutions of Britain are fighting each other like this..
its not as if the NHS are unaware of the massive problems facing them (many which have been caused by citizens becoming increasingly unwilling to support the concept of non “free-market” solutions), and to be fair I can live without Panorama, Eastenders or Dr Who but the NHS is a vital part of British society
I think the BBC should make compensation to the NHS for the admin cost of the reporters job interview and NHS resources taken up by the process against her… although it could be something like an equivalent amount of airtime given for a positive programme about the NHS, instead of a cash fine..
Hospital rumbles secret reporter
A BBC investigative reporter blew her cover and was summarily sacked just hours after beginning a job as a hospital housekeeper. West Suffolk Hospital has now launched an inquiry into recruitment procedures.
Shabnam Grewal, from current affairs programme Panorama, started work at the Bury St Edmunds hospital on Wednesday but staff soon became suspicious.
They said she was “surgically attached to her bag” and she could not remember the village in which she was staying.
‘Very cagey’
The appointment of an undercover reporter has sparked fresh calls for better checks to be made on hospital job applicants to ensure patient safety.
A hospital spokesman said it had followed the correct procedures and criticised those involved for wasting NHS time.
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She was rumbled within hours
Hospital spokesman |
“When challenged, she was unable to give a satisfactory response to our questions and was suspended. Our understanding is that she was an undercover reporter,” said the spokesman.
The hospital said it had checked two of Ms Grewal’s references before taking her on.
But neither the hospital nor the BBC would reveal details of what the reporter had written.
The hospital spokesman said: “She seemed surgically attached to her bag. When someone asked to look in it she said no and came over very cagey.
“She also said that she had come up from London for the job, but couldn’t remember the name of the village in Suffolk she was staying in. She was rumbled within hours.”
A spokesman for the BBC said: “I can confirm a BBC employee working for Panorama was exploring a possible health story at West Suffolk Hospital on Wednesday.”
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/england/suffolk/4544277.stm
Published: 2005/05/13 11:51:29 GMT
© BBC MMV
