Hospital whistleblower said Russell Simmonds is back at work

As previously reported, Russell Simmonds who worked in theatre at Basingstoke hospital for 32 years, was publicly shamed on X, formerly known as Twitter, after he commented on the rape and sexual assault allegations made against comedian Russell Brand, saying: “Blokes. This #RussellBrand stuff could happen to any of us.”

The 51-year-old received a huge backlash on social media, with hundreds of people calling him out for his controversial views.

READ MORE: Basingstoke hospital worker faces backlash over offensive comments

It then came to light that his social media pages contained a string of highly offensive comments posted over years which were shared with his employers at Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (HHFT), including a post saying: “Just shoot them in the face” linking to an article about migrants, and another from 2011 saying: “Well done England’s women. Now get in that kitchen and do what you’re best at.”

The trust launched an investigation which included a review of the “historical activity in relation to the comments” made by Mr Simmonds.

A whistleblower at HHFT has now contacted the Gazette to express concern that Mr Simmonds is back working for the trust.

They claim that Mr Simmonds was suspended but, following an appeal, has been allowed back to work.

HHFT has confirmed Mr Simmonds is still working for the trust. 

The whistleblower said: “His actions were obviously deemed by the management team to have caused enough offense to staff members to preclude him from returning to his original area of work, but not significant that he can’t work in an area where the majority of staff are BAME [Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic] and where there is such crossover of work that he will encounter the same people he has caused such hurt to by his thoughts and actions.”

The member of staff said that following the article in the Gazette in September, senior management at HHFT had reached out to staff who worked closely with Mr Simmonds to offer support for any suffering caused.

However, they said there had since been no formal communication to explain the reasons for his return to work.

“It will simply become apparent when we bump into him in the changing room or operating theatre,” they said, adding: “I find it hard to see how the thoughts and actions displayed publicly by Russell Simmonds fit with the trust’s CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect for all colleagues, patients and their families, encouraging and challenging each other to always do our best, or indeed the trust’s diversity statement.”

SEE ALSO: Pressure mounting for hospital trust to deal with offensive posts by staff member

The trust’s diversity statement says that all staff, patients, visitors and contractors can be “employed, cared for, welcomed, respected and treated in a consistent and non-discriminatory manner". 

A spokesperson for HHFT said it could not comment on the outcome of the investigation into Mr Simmonds, adding: “The comments made last year by Mr Simmonds on social media were utterly unacceptable and counter to our trust’s values. We cannot comment further on an individual employment matter.”

However, the spokesperson went on to say: “In general terms, we always carry out thorough investigations in any employment matters, and in deciding whether the appropriate action is dismissal, or disciplinary action short of dismissal, we take into account a range of factors including the work history of the individual, the level of remorse shown for the actions, and the previous support or training provided. We aim to act with fairness and compassion at all times.

“We would strongly encourage anyone who has concerns about their working environment to raise the issue, in confidence, with their line manager. Or to go through one of our many routes for speaking up, including our Freedom to Speak up Guardians, HR department, union representative or professional leaders. We aspire to be a place where all our colleagues are safe and supported at work.”