BOA and BOTA launch new poster on bullying

BOA and BOTA have worked together to launch a new poster about bullying for display in NHS departments around the country. The poster was launched at the recent spectacular BOA Annual Congress in Liverpool.

The poster was designed to fill an important communication gap as many people do not realise that some behaviours may be interpreted as bullying – such as ’setting unrealistic deadlines’, ‘undermining authority’ or ‘public humiliation’.

Robyn Brown, BOTA Culture and Diversity Representative, said: “Bullying damages wellbeing and teamwork. It’s defined by its impact on the recipient not the intent of the perpetrator. Behaviours set the culture of a department. Our poster lists the behaviours that can be interpreted as bullying so surgeons and other team members can avoid these. We must all demonstrate clarity and respect in professional interactions.”

This work comes at the same time as the updated publication of the BOA’s Code of Conduct, a ’Code of conduct’ for perioperative staff from the Association for Perioperative Practice and new resources about behaviours from the Centre for Perioperative Care were launched. All organisations are clear that behaviours across the NHS, including Orthopaedics must improve. We encourage BOA members and fellows to lead by example.

The new BOA/BOTA poster can be downloaded at the link below.  Please consider printing and displaying it in visible areas within your own departments. More information on bullying in the workplace is available from:

BOTA: www.bota.org.uk/bullying

AfPP: www.afpp.org.uk/about/afpp-behaviours-charter

CPOC: www.cpoc.org.uk/guidelines-resources-resources/improving-behaviours-perioperative-care