'Ward manager made me feel scared,' panel hears

Deborah Povall is facing allegations over how she treated staff and the care received by patients at an NHS hospital

An employee of a Shropshire hospital has accused a ward manager of making her feel "scared, threatened and intimidated" at a hearing.

Heather Owen, now a ward manager at the hospital, said Deborah Povall, who is also accused of putting patients' safety at risk, made other staff members cry.

Ms Povall is currently facing a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) substantive hearing into allegations relating to how she treated staff and the care patients received on Powys Ward at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt (RJAH) Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen, Shropshire.

She admitted working excessive hours but denied all of the other allegations relating to incidents between 2017 and 2019.

Ms Owen said Ms Povall made her feel "scared, threatened and intimidated" because she would shout at her and "put her down".

"Over a period of time, the belittling, the intimidation, the threatening, the changing of my shifts, and the innuendos got to the point I just did what I was told because, wrongly or rightly, it was the easiest thing I could do and manage to stay employed," said Ms Owen.

The hearing heard that Ms Povall was "very particular" when drug rounds were carried out.

"I would do one half [of the ward] and the other person the other half," said Ms Owen.

"But I was told off for being minutes earlier, so was made to go back in the room for a few minutes, then come out.

"The next day, Deb started the drug round herself and would come in earlier before a morning shift started."

Ms Owen said she was also concerned about how some patients were discharged.

"Deb had discharged a patient, but the surgeon or consultant wanted them to be seen the following day," she said.

'She wouldn't be defeated'

Paula Griffiths, a patient admission co-ordinator at RJAH, said she had a difficult working relationship with Ms Povall.

"Sometimes we'd get a very bubbly and cheerful Deb, but sometimes you could just tell by going onto the ward there was an atmosphere," she said.

"At times I felt intimidated and controlled. I couldn't go against or challenge Deb, whereas I could with other ward managers.

I think I was too scared to do so and was very aware not to get on the wrong side of Deb."

Ms Griffiths added that Ms Povall would also "manipulate" situations and would sometimes change bed allocations because she wanted certain consultants on the ward.

"Deb wouldn't be defeated – I think she liked the challenge. As a Band 4, I could not and would not challenge Deb. I was told she could get the patients in, and all would be well."

She also said Ms Povall would take patients from theatre even though the patients who were due to go home had not done so, which Ms Griffiths said did not seem safe.

"I felt like I was like a puppet on a string, and Deb was manipulating me on a string, and I knew that. I felt, for my own sake, I had to go along with it and couldn't stand up for myself."

The NMC's final witness will give evidence on Thursday.