Nijmegen hospital looking to fire five cardiologists due to "culture of fear" in staff

CWZ Nijmegen wants to end its collaboration with five cardiologists who work for the hospital through a partnership. A spokesperson for the hospital confirmed this to De Gelderlander. It was reported that a long-running conflict about compensation has led to this, but the hospital does not want to comment on the situation until the internal groups have given their advice.

It was also reported by De Gelderland in November that there was a “culture of fear” within the staff group. The newspaper had obtained a secret report which stated this. There were allegations of transgressive, rude, and uncollegiate behavior. People were allegedly treated unfairly and the doctors declined to take responsibility for this.

The CWZ spokesperson confirmed that there is a lengthy history behind the decision. Measures and a plan of action was implemented around the new year “and now we are going a step further.” He would not say anything more about the situation.

According to the spokesperson, this will not lead to any consequences for the patients. The doctors are “continuing their work as always, everybody is still working.”

Work is being done behind the scenes on future planning without the five doctors. “But there are still cardiologists who are contracted to the hospital, so not everyone will be gone.” The CWZ website states that there are currently 10 cardiologists at the hospital.

The Dutch Patient Federation thinks it is hard to estimate what the effects of this decision will be for patients of the hospital because they have no “insight into how they work,” a spokesperson.

But they said it is always important “that health care continues and is good. And if that is not possible here, then the CWZ must ensure that this happens somewhere else."