Interdepartmental hostility undermines patient care and demoralises staff

Dear Editor,

The tribalism described in the report is all too familiar for many healthcare professionals, and as pointed out by Kirkup, is not isolated to a handful of maternity units.

Hostile encounters are a source of a huge amount of distress for newly qualified doctors. To be shamed when asking for help is hugely demoralising, and in no way demonstrates patient-centred care. It is another example of the tribalism that has been described in the report on Maternity Care in East Kent.

In few other sectors is such interdepartmental hostility tolerated. Junior doctors are frequently the medium through which this hostility is transferred between departments. Fostering a culture of collaboration is one way in which we will improve the working lives of all healthcare staff, and subsequently improve the standard of compassionate care that patients receive.