Unite says its member vindicated by decision to investigate Guys/St
Thomas IVF practice
6 May 2009
Statement concerning Ms Biserka Pavlovic, clinical
scientist-embryologist, former employee at Guys/St Thomas Hospital
IVF Unit
Unite the union has today (Wednesday) said that the decision by
the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) to
investigate IVF practice at the Assisted Conception Unit (ACU) of
the Guys/St Thomas Hospital, London, vindicates their member, Ms
Biserka Pavlovic, who was dismissed after raising her fears about
systematic bad practice at the Unit with the regulator.
Unite says that the investigation will give some small comfort
to their member who has suffered tremendously since speaking out
five years ago. The investigation also reaffirms the decision of
the Health Professions Council, which last year found that an
allegation of misconduct against Ms Pavlovic was unfounded and that
her fitness to practice was in no way impaired.
In 2006, Ms Pavlovic drew the regulatory body's attention to
what she considered to be unsafe and irregular practice in the
hospital's ACU. This followed an 18 month period during which Ms
Pavlovic repeatedly raised her concerns in relation to the sperm
preparation standard operating procedure and witnessing procedures
(i.e. the mixing of sperm and eggs and checking on embryos) with
her senior managers, yet they declined to investigate the issues
further.
Instead her managers dismissed Ms Pavlovic from her post for
dereliction of duty. The hospital then sought to have Ms Pavlovic
struck off by the Health Professions Council for misconduct, but
did not succeed in achieving this. Now, with a HFEA investigation
pending, Unite says that their member was right to expose
malpractice at the ACU.
Gail Cartmail, Unite's assistant general secretary for public
services, said:
“The decision by the HFEA to investigate practice at the ACU at
Guys/St Thomas exonerates Ms Pavlovic who fought for years to have
shortcomings at the Unit addressed.
“Ms Pavlovic has suffered tremendously for the supposed crime of
trying to ensure that the highest professional standards are
upheld. The treatment she received at the hands of her former
employers was entirely unacceptable. Not content with trying to
quash her for speaking out to the regulator, they sought to have
her professional reputation ruined by the Health Professions
Council, a move which thankfully failed as the Council backed Ms
Pavlovic decreeing her fit to practice.
“It is a testament to her professionalism and her strength of
character that she has withstood this abuse in order to ensure that
patients are given the best possible treatment as they go through
the process of IVF. The NHS depends on employees of Ms Pavlovic's
calibre to preserve its values of quality care for all, and Unite
will continue to support her as she rebuilds her professional
life.”
Ms Pavlovic expressed disappointment that the issues which
concerned her five years ago appear to be ongoing: “I am extremely
saddened to learn that since my time at the Guys/St Thomas’
Hospital, when I drew attention to deficiencies in the witnessing
procedures, no lessons appear to have been learned.
“I had concerns in relation to witnessing procedures not being
performed as they should. The failure to meet this requirement is a
breach of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 and Code
of Practice.
“When I worked at Guys/St Thomas, I continuously raised my
concerns with my seniors. It was only when, after 18 months of
repeating my fears but nothing was done, that I decided I had no
other choice but the draw the regulatory body's attention to the
issues. Sadly, I cannot be surprised that another mix-up has
happened.
“Patients should be able to have every confidence that mistakes
will not be made during the course of their treatment. It is
essential that every step possible is taken to protect patients,
and to uphold public confidence in my field.”
ENDS
For further information, please contact Pauline Doyle on 07976
832 861.
Unite for Jobs
On 16th May 2009, Unite will hold a march through Birmingham. This
will be the centrepiece of the 'Unite for Jobs' campaign. The March
for Jobs will spotlight the need for urgent assistance to defend
jobs.
For information on the march, please visit: http://action.unitetheunion.org
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