17 years ago, in the very same hospital, a junior doctor, who was in the middle of an 80 hour shift (I mean it- 9am Friday to 5pm Monday)was refused a meal because the canteen had shut 5 mins previously. It was the middle of the night, and there were no shops open, there were no vending machines (except for cold drinks) and the only food available on the wards (and supplied for the patients not the staff) was toast. The canteen staff were still there, the food was still there, and piping hot, but it was 5 mins past 1 am, so no, you can't get something to eat.
That junior doctor didn't "steal" any food, but phoned her Consultant, who phoned a manager, who phoned the canteen supervisor, who agreed to serve the food, but only after her staff (who worked 12-hour shifts, poor things)had had their break. So, 45 minutes later, a plate of food was supplied and paid for. How long does it take to dollop some stew and chips onto a plate, FFS?
Unfortunately, it seems nothing has changed at Queens Medical Centre over the years. The hospital is still ruled by jobsworths, who clearly have nothing better to do than disrupt the clinical work going on in the place!
If you have clinical concerns over a doctors work, you don't suspend him on a trumped-up charge,like stealing croutons. It smacks to me of the type of "knee-jerk" suspension that is implemented to "protect" the member of staff whilst an investigation goes on. How much investigation is needed? He either did or didn't steal the croutons. If he did, then slap his wrists and apply an appropriate sanction. I was disturbed to read that none of his patients are suffering from his suspension, because his work is being done by his colleagues, as if they didn't have enough to do already!