Disciplinary charges against a long-serving counsellor at the Hamar Centre have been dropped by hospital trust bosses following her resignation.
Lin Brown had been told to stay away from the centre, which provides support for patients battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, after resigning over a dispute over one-to-one support sessions. But the formal warning she was issued has been declared null and void as she no longer works at the centre.
Ms Brown had been a counsellor at the centre since its inception in 1991, but resigned alongside her colleague Arvind Patel amid claims a member of the centre management had interrupted a support session. Several of their clients at the centre have since written to the Chronicle and Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust to support the duo.
And the woman who hired both counsellors has also voiced her frustration at the future direction of the centre. Joyce McLoughlin helped to establish the centre following a £250,000 bequest from Linnie Hamar and said she was ‘absolutely appalled’ at the situation.
Ms Brown has been told a letter sent to her on January 27 issuing her with a formal warning has been rescinded, and that as she is no longer employed by the trust she is not subject to disciplinary procedures.
Ms McLoughlin said: “I’m absolutely appalled at what has been happening at the Hamar Centre over the past few months. It was initiated as a personal-centred client-led service but I do not believe that’s the case anymore.
“I contracted both Lin and Arvind and I know them both to be of the deepest integrity. They have a wealth of experience dealing with people with life-threatening illnesses and for everything to end so suddenly is against any health care protocol.”
A spokesman for The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust said: “As this individual was an independent contractor and not directly employed by the Trust our normal disciplinary procedures do not apply. We have therefore decided not to pursue this matter further as this individual is no longer contracted by us.
“We would like to reassure people that we have not made any changes to the services being provided at the Hamar Centre, despite recent reports to the contrary. In fact, we are currently looking at ways we can expand the counselling service at the centre as we recognise what a valued and important service it is to our patients.
“The trust is committed to providing the highest standard of care for our patients and service users, and although this is a service which is not normally provided by acute hospitals and for which we do not receive funding, we are committed to developing and expanding it further. We recognise the importance of supporting patients with long-term conditions.”
By Peter Kitchen