Hate mail sent to second doctor

Dr Alexander Kanellopoulos used to work at University Hospitals Birmingham

A hate mail letter has been sent to a second doctor who worked in the troubled haematology department at University Hospitals Birmingham.

Dr Alexander Kanellopoulos was told among other expletives to "sod off and leave no genes behind".

It follows a similar letter sent to whistleblower Dr Emmanouil Nikolousis eight months ago, who had exposed a toxic culture at the trust.

The hospital trust said it was urgently reviewing both messages and has called the letter "appalling".

The latest letter was sent on 7 May to Dr Kanellopoulos at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield, where he now works.

Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill, who is leading a cross-party reference group on the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) trust, described it as "shocking" and said she would write to the Department of Health and Social Care.

Dr Manos Nikolousis was one of three whistleblowers who highlighted the culture at the trust

It follows an investigation into patient safety errors in the UHB haematology department, where Dr Kanellopoulos used to work.

He has asked UHB in an email to activate procedures around stalking and harassment in case the sender were to target more vulnerable individuals.

In March last year, following an investigation by the BBC into the "culture of fear" at the trust, Prof Mike Bewick gathered evidence of "a long standing bullying and toxic environment" at the hospital.

The haematology department was singled out as an area requiring further areas of inquiry.

Dr Nikolousis said that the latest letter was the same predictable behaviour and showed that very little had changed. He added that had contacted the Greek Embassy.

In an email to UHB Chief Executive Jonathan Brotherton, he wrote: "There is no doubt about the hatred and racism we have faced which has actually caused a lot of distress."

Mr Brotherton responded: "It is appalling to see the correspondence that has been sent.

"I am urgently reviewing both of your emails and will come back to you in due course with a full response."