HEALTH chiefs have drawn up an action plan to put the troubled Manor Road Addiction Services in Chatham back on track. The clinic has been rocked by allegations of bootlegging and bullying of staff, as first exposed in last week's Medway Messenger newpaper.

They were revealed in a confidential internal report compiled by the Thames Gateway NHS Trust which was published after a two-month investigation with the trade union Unison. Thames Gateway NHS Trust said it is now tackling the allegations head on and hopes to move the centre forward.

Chief executive John Mangan said: "The action plan stems from the recommendation of the investigation report into the allegations. We want to develop relationships and improve communications.

ÒAnd certainly if we find any wrong doing we would take the appropriate action."

Len Rowlands, clinical director of the mental health directorate, said: ÒWe want to make the service develop in a more positive direction." The report claims that a friend of consultant psychiatrist Dr Greg Halse had sold cigarettes, and in one instance alcohol, to staff at the centre.

The action plan specifically deals with the subject of bullying and harassment and follows a recommendation for one in the inquiry report. It involves the setting up of a steering group consisting of members of senior management, unions and senior workers in the addiction services.

Mr Mangan said: "We want to make sure everybody understands our harassment and bullying policy. We have already had a policy for some time and the very fact that an investigation was launched following the allegations shows that it works.

"We take these matters very seriously. A purpose of the policy is to provide mediation and help for staff. Any form of bullying is worrying and creates an unsatisfactory work environment. And if there are not good relations within the service it can affect standards of care."

Meanwhile the issue of the alcohol and cigarette selling is subject to further investigation. Mr Mangan said: "Such transactions would be inappropriate in the context of an NHS working environment, particularly in an addiction centre. And even then as a health service we are involved in encouraging people to stop smoking."

The investigation was led by Linda Robson, associate director of the (clinical) primary care directorate. Mr Rowlands said: "We would like to stress that the investigation team did receive co-operation from people it spoke to during the inquiry and thanked them for it."