Perhaps F. Henderson from Gateshead could enlighten us further? What exactly did happen between Susan Mooney and John Nimmo? If, as this posting insinuates, there is any evidence of innapropriate behaviour between two senior members of staff, then the circumstances should be investigated and subjected to the appropriate disciplinary procedures. Given that S Mooney & Co have 'managed' this debacle and employed interrogation techniques that the Gestapo would be proud of, one must assume that her own professional conduct has been impeccable. After all, good managers lead by example. Apparently! The phenomenal amount of time and money being squandered on removing loyal, competent and dedicated members of clinical staff would have been better invested in paying what is required to secure a high calibre professional management team to ensure what has technically been an orchestrated 'witch hunt' never happens within this organisation again. In response to I. P. Freely - indeed you do!

Mrs C. Dow, Argyll, Scotland

I realise this is all about the veterinary side of the charity.

Would someone like to look at how they decimated the fundraising team earlier this year without a care

L Crawford, Glasgow,

In many cases these people had no performance issues or were indeed above average.

anon , scotland,

In response to I.P Freely:
If management felt the need to 'dust out the cobwebs' then these people should have been performance managed out of this practice in a professional manner rather than the farce which is unfolding, or would this have been too difficult to achieve?........

Lydia Ramsay, Newcastle, UK

Employees are attracted to larger organisations such as PDSA as they naively assume they have more structure than the other alternatives. However, the knowledge of their HR dept is consistently substandard, with correspondence dealt by staff that are likely to resign within six months. In turn, they are managed by personnel who are under the illusion they are the apex of the company framework. Such arrogance can only be justified if the quality of the work is exceptional.
Unintentionally, Mr Ross has identified my final point. Most managerial posts within PDSA are held by clinical staff. This does not equate to personnel possessing the ability to execute the required skills. In other businesses, these people would achieve technical team leader positions only. It does seem they have tried to address this, but their low comparative salaries attract low grade supervisors and they given more responsibility than they would achieve elsewhere. Reforms within this industry are long overdue.

Lydia Ramsay, Newcastle, UK

The new managment were simply dusting out the old cobwebs (and a few more should be swept away in the process), for years the staff at the Pdsa have treated work as a social occassion, a gathering of friends. Finally someone has come in and asked them to do some work and this is the backlash they receive, some grotty little chat page that only they know about. The kennels were lined with this article the next day and none of the clients were any the wiser. While you bitterly discuss how you were wronged, stop for a minute and think; Where will the animals go when you DESTROY the Pdsa? Will they come to your practices for free treatment - NO Will they go to the SSPCA - NO Will they go to the dogs trust - NO Where then????? No animals were harmed during this process and no treament was refused, work continued as normal. Budgets were not stretched and the money well, if it gets rid of people who cause this much disruption to every other member of staffs lives. NUF SAID

I.P Freely, Portugal,

As one who works for a national law firm I can echo the comments of Steve Anderson below. This organisation's HR and Senior Managers, with whom I have had personal experience (and not in Glasgow- which only further legitimises the point) are without exception the most crass, offensive, resource wasteful and legally inarticulate outfit I have EVER come across. PDSA hides behind its 'caring charity' reputation and has behaved in a grossly aggressive, bullying way towards some of its former loyal, longstanding employees. I think this time they have come unstuck and, as the comments on this site show, have created many enemies. I would urge the uninformed to think very carefully before they rush to publish inarticulate platitudes in their defence. PDSA are terrified of Employment Tribunals and will lose in any such arena. The reason they never have so far is because they waste millions of pounds on gagging orders each year to ensure they are never so humiliated. That says it all.

M. S. , Manchester, UK

I worked at the Shamrock street clinic for eighteen years as a nurse and enjoyed being part of a very professional and dilligent team of people. I can certainly confirm that everyone pulled together and worked many hours of unpaid overtime. It was accepted as part of the job and the welfare of the animals was always uppermost in everyones minds. These are not the actions of disgruntled or disillousioned people as has been suggested in some contributions to this page. Having worked for so many years with all four of the staff mentioned and observed their dedication and professionalism on a daily basis, I was very distressed to learn that they had been treated in this manner. Management is about recognising and nurturing such an excellent team and working together to resolve any difficulties, not about destroying individuals and crushing morale.

Elinor Smart, Towcester, Northamptonshire

There are a lot of orchestrated interested parties on this site. Gairn Ross used to run PDSA; Richard Dixon runs Vets Now, who rely on PDSA support to do their work and another remark on here has been posted by a friend of the PDSA's CVS, Richard Hooker. He, who shall remain anonymous, has been admonished for his uninformed comments!

Good to see PDSA management are getting the reaction they thoroughly deserve. Well done Times. Well done Scotland. Let's get this charity scrutinised. They hate having to account. They're not used to it. I think they're very worried by this Times expose.

I heard they hired a PR company to put a positive spin on it. How much did that cost ? And again, I don't think that money is going towards sick animals...

They should resign or be fired before more damage is done.

Valerie Worth, Netherton Nottingham, UK

Having been privy to some of the actual communication from PDSA head office to the staff involved in this fiasco,I feel compelled to finally have my say.I can say without fear of contradiction and contrary to the "is this really news" posting on this page, that there is "no way" the PDSA will take these cases to tribunal as they are nothing short of disgraceful and they simply can't win.I am a Board Director of a large organisation (6000 employees) and in all my years in business I have never seen anything like it. PDSA communication has been unprofessional, adversarial, threatening and totally unhelpful in this issue. The HR department simply beggars belief in the approach that it has taken. I say to PDSA head office staff, the papers for tribunal are being returned, let's see it through to the end and the "Truth Will Out". Let an independent chairman at an employment tribunal hear these cases.If you have been ethical in your approach to these staff you'll have nothing to fear.

Steve Anderson (MBA), Warwickshire,

I worked at the Shamrock street clinic for eighteen years as a a nurse and was head nurse for some of these years. I can certainly confirm the fact that we worked many hours of unpaid overtime. There was a very strong team spirit and everyone pulled together with the welfare of the animals in mind. These are not the actions of disgruntled or disillusioned people as has been suggested in some contributoins to this page.I was very distressed to read about recent events as I worked with all four of the people mentioned in the article and witnessed their dedication and professionalism on a daily basis. Management is about recognising and nurturing such an excellent team, not destroying individuals and crushing morale.

Elinor Smart, Towcester, Northamptonshire

And Susan Mooney and John Nimmo.
What about that story.....?

er... was that PDSA and its 'high professional' standards?

F. Henderson, Gateshead, UK

I have truly never worked in an organisation like PDSA. The amount of advantage taken of staff, the patronising and frankly insulting treatment at the hands of senior workers and a preposterously crippling workload ensured I only stayed with the charity for a few months. Looking back, I'm surprised I tolerated it for that long.

The aim of the charity is a good one which is why I applied for the job in the first place. Unfortunately, PDSA senior staff seem intent on making life difficult for those working directly with clients, thus ensuring the efficiency of the delivery of client services is impaired. One senior member of staff at our branch not only enjoyed criticising me in front of other staff, but in front of clients too, which I consider to be the epitomy of unprofessionalism. This person is a personal friend of one of the accused in this article.

Worst job I ever had bar none.

Karen, Belfast,

And what about what is going on with the pensions?
Why is nobody highlighting/looking into that?

stan campbell, Shrewsbury, UK

I used to work for PDSA and am not surprised to read this article or the amount of negative comments on this site. There is a serious issue, it is to do with an HR department and senior management that in the main, lacks talent and/or integrity. They suppress information and disenfranchise staff. Then hide behind the charity tag. PDSA will hate the fact that they can't control this news. Really hate it. It's time the Council of Governors and the Charity Commission took action. I think this is the beginning of a reputation that will never leave this 'charity' until those responsible do. They have alot of people they have crossed in so so many ways. And that is going to hit PDSA financially. They know they have messed up BIG now. The genie doesn't go back in the bottle. I praise the Scottish vets and staff who faced them down. You won. Well done. And all those who are in the organisation, talking quietly behind the scenes. Keep going. Say what they dont want you to say.

Name Withheld, North East, UK

Some in the PDSA hate the fact its detractors are at liberty to comment. They're not used to it having a level playing field. It appears they're used to gagging all detractors, al dissent, all criticism. Of course if it was as rosy as some employees on this page have attemptd to suggest, there would not be any detractors would there? This 'charity' needs to be looked into and investigated. Specifically its senior management techniques. Funny how they are all silent now. I think its called fear.

T.T, Carlisle, UK

No wonder they changed their name!

Jonathan Harris, North East, UK

The clue is in the title.

PDSA = Prohibit Divulging Signed Agreements.

M. Mayhew, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

Please Don't Say Anything
Prevent Damaging Stories Appearing
Print Denials Stop Allegations
Pay Deny Suppress Avoid

What does PDSA stand for?

M. Harton, Northumberland, UK

'To my certain knowledge' the PDSA spent in excess of £100,000 on one similar case last year in Newcastle involving a senior vet. Now that money did not go on treating 'sick animals' with 'no voice' did it?
I think its time the pretending stopped. This is a very healthy debate about use/misuse of charitable resources. Its high time the public were told exactly what their donations and legacies are going towards. They should not be misled. I stopped supporting this organisation last year. I congratulate the Times for its story. And I'm sure there's more to come.

C.Maddison, Newcastle, UK

One of the things this organisation hasn't worked out is that when it gags and treats staff appallingly it makes enemies of those staff. And their husbands. And their wives. Sons, daughters, friends, etc. And those people can't be gagged. Can't be threatened. And they are reporters, vets, lawyers, academics, doctors, authors, PR executives. They run businesses and have influence. And they remember. So the word gets around. This organisation is, as one of the contributors says below, reaping what it has spent so long sowing.

A.Turner, Morden, London, UK

Of course Gairn Ross appointed Susan Mooney - the very manager at the heart of this Times story scandal. His comments are to be expected. They are not objective.

Andrew Collins, Telford, UK

I understand Mr Ross also appointed Jan McLoughlin. He's not an objective speaker as he admits. His legacy is apparent.

Neil Maddison, Fife, UK

The PDSA managers are at liberty to comment at any time. They have chosen not to comment - I believe because the allegations are true. Yes there are two sides to every story and the PDSA attempt to gag employees from being able to tell their side.

Mrs A Downs, Brighton, UK

Why does this charity shield the people whose actions have damaged it?

To me that says everything about its true priorities and intentions.

I was not at all surprised to read this article. I have heard these stories about the PDSA before.

Mr. A. Towne, St. Mellons, Cardiff, UK

I am appalled at the bullying and abuse of charity workers. I will no longer support this organisation until there is a thorough and public investigation into its activities.

Claire Wilson, South Shields, UK

Sadly the gagged are not at liberty to comment either. Good to see the PDSA attempting to limit the damage the actions its own managers have caused. I hope the Times keeps digging into this 'charity' and taking a very close view about how it is managed and where the leagacies are actually going.

Susan Harris, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, UK

Gairn Ross is entitled to his view. But that is all it is. A view.
The PDSA if it has nothing to hide would not be gagging its employees or wasting hundreds of thousands of pounds on gagging employees. You have no evidence to suggest that the legitimate criticisms on this site are orchestrated activities at all. The greatest discredit to good managers to your organisation is the senior managers who brought about this fiasco. The PDSA reaps what you have sown. And the more the PDSA attempts to conceal it the more damage will be caused. I am boycotting the PDSA and writing to my MP.

Stephen Smith, Middlesbrough, UK

As the previous Director of Veterinary Services for PDSA with over 26 years' service, promoted through the ranks from working vet to senior manager, I read with great concern the very negative entries to this site.
To my certain knowledge, PDSA operates to the highest professional standards in all matters, and how it treats its staff is no exception.
Sadly in this matter, PDSA management are not able to comment whilst the detractors are at liberty to do so, and I urge readers of this site to remember that there are always two sides to every story. Furthermore, that the greatest risk to any organisation, and charities are no exception, comes from disaffected staff.
It is clear to me that this is orchestrated activity by such staff whose objective appears to be to discredit good managers. Not only are they damaging them but also every other member of PDSA staff and the great work that the charity does treating literally thousands of sick animals, who have no voice, every day.

Gairn A Ross, Broughty Ferry,

This is the confidentiality clause the PDSA use in their gagging orders: The Employee agrees not to disclose (whether directly or indirectly) the fact, contents or details of this Agreement and/or any of the circumstances surrounding the termination of the Employee's employment with the Employer to any third party without the prior written consent of the Employer having first been obtained...'

L. Williams, Telford, UK

I have heard similar stories about this organisation before. I am not surprised. I think there should be an investigation as to the misuse of donations.

a. andrews, Gateshead, UK

The Times have exposed a story managers at this charity would have wanted kept secret. Well done. I think there'll be more stories to come.

Of course the PDSA are being very quiet now. Very quiet. Hoping it will go away. Step in Charity Commission. This organisation needs investigating.

P.Peverly, Brighton,

Until this matter is fully investigated I will sever all my ties with this 'charity'. I believe the Charity Commission should step in and assess exactly where the charitable donations raised/donated for sick animals is actually going. The article would suggest it is being spent on gagging charity workers. I think this is a disgrace and I think the Times has done a magnificent job exposing this. Well done.

Geoff Lonsdale, Newcastle,

Why do so many people stay with the PDSA? Nowadays this will be at least partly down to excellent facilities & support staff levels - far beyond the resources of most private practices; excellent pay & working hours; opportunities to develop new skills and improve qualifications, without worrying too much about the real world costs. But does all this add up to an effective use of animal welfare money in the modern world? More and more expensive drugs on the market able to prolong life, does not make it essential that every UK pet is able to access these for free. 1000s of healthy animals are still put to sleep in the UK each year, and farm animal welfare is still a serious concern. I left the organisation soon after an expensive rebrand: ‘PDSA’, not ‘the PDSA’; the logo lost the animals; old paperwork binned, not recycled nor used up. Soon after I saw a little old lady collecting pennies for the PDSA with a shaker tin and felt ashamed….
ex PDSA, now Afghanistan

Stephen Blakeway, Musselburgh, Scotland

This story is long, long overdue. Well done Times. Keep going. The management of the organisation won't want you to. The question is why?

Stephanie Powell, Hexham,

….From the perspective of Afghanistan, where I am currently working, I feel people who care about animals would do better to give their money to SPANA, who help working equines in developing countries; CIWF, who work to improve the conditions of farmed animals around the world; a charity such as EIA which works to protect vulnerable wildlife; or find a local charity in a resource poor country and support them directly. Tigger House in Kabul is an example, but there are thousands around the world and the majority would achieve more with the money you send them than the PDSA. World Rabies Day is on 8th September and many countries will celebrate this by killing street dogs in gruesome ways because they cannot afford a neuter and release scheme. £81 million could go a long way.
ex PDSA, now working in Afghanistan

Stephen Blakeway, Musselburgh, Scotland

Where is the evidence that 'any concerns arising from Shamrock Street' were not addressed through consultation? Answer: nowhere.

Whether a press article is damaging is in the eye of the beholder. The PDSA don't think this is damaging, at all. To date they've passed it off as simply 'an unfortunate distraction'. Only it's a distraction that is not going away.

'Is this really news?' asked someone on these pages from Birmingham. Well if an organisation which enjoys public charitable status was subsequently exposed as having wasted huge sums of that charities funds on covering up mismanagement, yes, I think millions of people would think that was really news. And the millions would be angry that all their legacies and donations had been misspent. Let the people decide. Don't gag them.

Personally I donate to other animal charities and avoid this one. Always.

Geoff Mitchell, Newcastle, UK

After reading this article I have stopped contributing to this charity. I think the Charity Commission should look into this matter. If the organisation is to enjoy the tax advantages and publicity afforded public charities it should be prepared to have its practices scrutinised. Why is it gagging longstanding employees.

Alex Brown, Glasgow, UK

The Times reports 'Scotland and the North East of England are under the remit of Susan Mooney, one of the PDSA’s principal veterinary surgeons'.

I wonder how long that will continue to be the case...

L. Viney, Glasgow, UK

I am horrified to read of the huge waste of charity money involved in the investigation of staff who have given so many years service to the PDSA. Are the charities commission investigating this? If not they should be. It would seem rather strange to me that so many staff with such long service would be dismissed - is this a pension saving exercise? "Gagging orders" - do they remember they are a charity and have no right to cover up anything? They are accountable to us all! Until this is fully investigated I will not be donating to the PDSA. From the comments I have read above this is not just a local issue. I hope the Times will be further investigating the situation and speaking to the people who have not been "gagged"!

F Patterson, Glasgow,

As a senior mental health professional who has assessed and treated ex
members of the PDSA for work related stress and anxiety I welcome the Times article into this organisation because it is consistent with my
professional experience. We know from research that the damage that bullying and harassment causes to individuals physical and mental health is unmeasurable,and affects their lives in many ways, for many years.

SMSaiger, Durham, UK

As a Senior Vet with PDSA for 26 years I have been a strong critic in the past feeling that wrong decisions were made and staff weren’t listened to. However my experience more recently is that the management style both nationally and in the Scottish/NE region has changed dramatically for the better. A robust staff consultation process was established to give staff a real opportunity to influence decisions which affect our daily work and the direction of the charity. Management has proved that it’s willing to listen and change its views where appropriate. Indeed the disciplinary and grievance procedures referred to in the article were agreed by staff and management as part of that process. Any concerns arising from Shamrock Street could have been addressed through consultation without the need for damaging press articles. Articles like this damage the excellent work the PetAid hospitals provide to pets.

Andy Cage, Dundee,

As an ex-employee of PDSA who is able to speak their mind without fear of repercussions, I find it incredible that some individuals are criticising those who 'dare' to be positive about the management at PDSA. It is a large organisation with many staff and the fact is, they won't all agree with the 'local' teams otherwise PDSA would have no staff at all! One comment was posted from Telford, along with many more from regional teams and forgive me but my recollection is that they don't brainwash HO staff - and surely they are entitled to their opinions. I suspect the individuals involved haven't disagreed with PDSA's policies - which are open to all staff - until their own actions were called into question. If they have been treated so badly, why have they not gone to tribunals and won, which really would be news. I suspect because they don't expect to win, even with an objective audience! Every organisation has staff issues - why would PDSA be different! Is this really news?

R. Halstuck, Birmingham, UK

As a Vet qualified for 22 years, the last 10 with PDSA as a Senior Vet, I have seen many changes in the Profession and in PDSA. No organisation can stay static and survive. Individuals may or may not agree with developments in their organisation and I'm sure PDSA is no exception. However, speaking from my own experience I have always found the Veterinary senior management team to be open to comment and feedback, even when challenging, and to have a genuine commitment to maintaining the charity's ability to provide a caring, professional and efficient service to our clients and their pets.
Susan Mooney was my line manager for several years and I still value her guidance and support during that time. I can speak only from my own experience, but I found her helpful, professional and compassionate, as well as meticulous in her approach to the management of the PetAid Hospital team.

Ann Draper, Leeds, UK

As a vet I have worked alongside many PDSA staff including some of those mentioned above in Glasgow as well as some of the senior management team. Knowing the individuals I am sure that this has not turned out as any of them would have wished. In my experience, the clinical and management teams at PDSA are hard working and committed. PDSA and its staff are rightly held in high regard. They are dedicated to improving animal welfare and have a hugely positive impact throughout the UK. Whilst I am not privy to the specifics of these cases it is certainly a far cry from the “business as usual” which occurs across the country day in day out. Whilst not in any way taking away from the obviously important events in Glasgow, the vast majority of work performed by everyone at PDSA, whether in management, administration, volunteers or clinical staff across the UK is extremely positive and it is important not to forget this amongst the recent events.

Richard Dixon, Saline, Fife

I am so glad that finally someone has spoken up about the treatment by Susan Mooney of staff in her region. I know of two vets (one in Gateshead clinic 2004 and the other in Newcastle last year) who have had to endure the disciplinary procedures and have been eventually sacked. I have seen first hand how a minor matter has been blown out of proportion and as a result caused misery and unimaginable stress for those involved. In response to comments above, it is not the PDSA charity as a whole, but certain individuals within the company who need to account for their questionable actions and stop shielding under the umbrella of this worthy charity.

Emma Gray, Durham, UK

1. If the organisation was as wonderful as some of the contributors to this site are trying to suggest, all but one of whom are employees (i.e. unable to criticise their employer in print) there would have been no full-page article on page 25 of the Times.
2. If there are 1,800 happy staff how come they're not all writing in expressing that love? Why are the contributors from Telford, where the PDSA has its Head Office?
3. The PDSA wants the press to publicise all the charity work and not ask any questions. It has always been petrified of exposure. Unfortunately the word is out now and it will never go away now.

B. Bell, Middlesbrough, UK

I am an ex-employee of the PDSA (a vet). There are excellent people working for the organisation at all levels, as you would expect in a charity of this size. However something is wrong when staff of such long service, and great experience, feel the necessity to leave. The organisation is large, adopts corporate management styles in expanding administrative departments, with the result that there can emerge large differences in working culture between those at the coal face, dealing with animals and people, and those in management. I believe the PDSA has lost its way, which is a shame. It has some spectacularly untalented people in senior posts at regional and national level, who can do enormous damage, as has been seen. Its reputation within mainstream vet medicine is also probably falling and certainly this kind of thing does no good. Some vets in practice think it is an organisation with more money than sense.

Experienced vet, N England,

There are exceptional and dedicated people working for the PDSA at all levels. I know some of them. I worked as a vet and loved the job before leaving the Edinburgh centre in 2004. As mentioned in the article, this centre also had major upheavals and many people left. Whatever the reasons now, when you have such longstanding people leaving or being dismissed, something serious seems amiss. It looks like there are deep institutional issues, causing an ongoing and shameful waste of financial and human resources. It's a large organisation with some very highly paid staff in management. Maybe it's become too large and too corporate in its ambitions, or maybe there just isn't a critical mass of suitable people in important posts. At any rate they are paid to be accountable. It's time for open-ness - that much is owed to the people who donate to the PDSA as well as work there. The veterinary profession is a small one and the PDSA's reputation is at stake.

Andrew Gardiner, Edinburgh,

I was dismayed to read the article regarding PDSA management on 31 July. I have worked for PDSA for 21 years as a veterinary surgeon, including being part of the head office management team for a time before returning to a hospital, and this has enabled me to observe management practice from a number of viewpoints. My experience is that PDSA management works tirelessly, often under considerable pressure, to safeguard our clients, pet patients, PDSA’s charitable resources and also our staff. PDSA management recognises that staff are a very important and valuable part of the organisation. In any close-knit team, when difficult issues need to be resolved, it is inevitable that there will be upset and even dissatisfaction, especially when long-serving staff are involved, but the allegations made appear very out of character of PDSA management’s approach to such matters. It is a real shame that they detract from all the good work done on a daily basis.

Richard Ewers, Leicester,

It is no revelation to read that staff like Paula Duff who works in Head Office thinks the managers are wonderful, caring and professional. Paula and her sort are all very 'saddened' by this naughty story and would like the press to go away and report only on the cuddly animals. Dont mention anything about ruining people's lives behind the scenes. Just focus on the cuddly animals.

She suggests this is a 'local issue'. If so, Susan Mooney, on whose 'local' patch these 'issues' all of which apparently 'are entirely without foundation' keep occurring in, or should that be, er, not occuring in, has brought the PDSA into disrepute. She should be disciplined. And that's what would happen in a truly professional organisation.

But the PDSA doesn't tolerate criticism. Nobody who works in it would dare criticise Susan Mooney or Jan McLoughlin on these pages. Because they would be gone. And afterwards, an internal enquiry would rule it was all 'entirely without foundation'.

J. Brown, Middlesbrough, UK

As a vet I have had the pleasure of working alongside many PDSA staff in recent years including some of those mentioned above in Glasgow as well as some of the senior management team. Knowing the individuals involved I am sure that this has not turned out as any of them would have wished. In my experience, the clinical and management teams at PDSA are hard working and committed. The PDSA is rightly held in high regard and first and foremost is dedicated to improving animal welfare. They work tirelessly in difficult circumstances and have had a hugely positive impact on animal health throughout the UK. Whilst I am not privy to the specifics of the cases involved I guess all organizations inevitably have peaks and troughs, and I am sure all at PDSA consider this to be a desperately unfortunate situation. It is certainly a far cry from the “business as usual” which occurs across the country day in day out. Whilst not in any way taking away from the events in Glasgow, the vast majority of work performed by everyone at PDSA, whether in management, administration, volunteers or clinical staff across the UK is extremely positive and it is important not to forget this amongst the recent events.

Richard Dixon, Saline, Fife

I have worked for PDSA for over 24 years and love my job. The aim of the PDSA is to provide free treatment to sick and injured animals throughout the country for people that cannot afford Private Veterinary fees and are eligible for the service and I feel we do an excellent job. I personally have always found management very helpful when I have sought advice. The reason for my long and continuing career with PDSA is that I am happy in my work, I believe in the cause and have great respect for the Charity and it's achievements for the pets and clients in the United Kingdom.
HN

HN, West Yorkshire,

I am angry and upset by this article. I've worked for PDSA for 16 years and have seen many changes in the charity and its managment, but the approach to staff has always been fair and consistent.
PDSA employs over 1,800 staff and is supported by over 4,800 volunteers. Inevitably there will be the occasional difficulty, especially as many people are uncomfortable with change, but PDSA is a modern,efficient charity that cares deeply about the pets we treat AND the people who help this happen.
PDSA must be a professionally run business to ensure the money the public so generously donate, and the time our volunteers so kindly give, are not wasted. If there are problems, PDSA can not turn a blind eye, they must be investigated and dealt with in accordance with agreed policies and within a legal framework . This is exactly what happened here.
It is devastating that the bitter comments from a few disgruntled staff could damage the solid, caring and professional reputation PDSA has built

Janet Compton, Winchester,

The PDSA has to take 'extremely seriously any allegation of mismanagement' - because if it gets leaked in public its revenue source (charitable donations and legacies) would diminish.
This is why the organisation favours the use of Compromise Agreements. Employers only utilise these types of contracts when they are in dire trouble and need to gag employees from going public. According to the Times article - and I believe they've accurately sourced their material - there appears to have been a proliferation of such, i.e. the PDSA repeatedly gets into difficulties. The common factor appears to be the senior management and the HR department.
This organisation is desperate to conceal exactly how much charity money, bequeathed to it in wills for the benefit of sick animals, has been spent instead on Compromise Agreements, lawyers fees and covering up for management behaviour. I would invite them to disclose the sum to the Times, whom I congratulate for exposing this matter.

Mrs. A. Matthews, Birmingham,

As a current long-serving employee of PDSA, I was angry after reading this story and very surprised that the Times chose to run it. It does not accurately reflect the general feeling of staff at PDSA, who are proud to work for an organisation that is professional and caring – in every way. PDSA employs around 1,800 staff, many of whom have worked for the charity for a long time. If this story reflected the whole picture, why then would this be the case? In a large organisation, there will always be occasions when some members of staff feel disillusioned about their employer, whoever they are, and never more so than when disciplinary action is taken. But, what a shame the Times felt compelled to report on what can only be a local issue, when the rest of the charity is working hard to ensure that the many sick and injured pets whose owners rely us, receive the vital treatment they deserve. After all, that’s what PDSA is really all about!

Paula Duff, Telford, Shropshire

After reading the article yesterday regarding allegations made against PDSA I felt compelled to write and give my personal opinion of PDSA and its Management.

I have worked for PDSA since January 1988. It is an absolutely wonderful organisation to work for. I have received nothing but support from members of staff on all levels.

PDSA have always in the past and I know will continue to do so in the future do the very best they can for their employees. PDSA have always gone out of their way to accommodate requests made by members of their staff.

I am disappointed and saddened that such an article could be written about a professional and caring organisation.

Heather Robinson-Harvey, Leicester,

As a retired receptionist who worked for ten years in the Shamrock Street clinic, I am appalled at the treatment my ex-colleagues have received from the so-called management of PDSA, It is an extremely busy centre but, as already stated, no-one refused to stay late if the situation required it and everyone worked as a team. As stated by Freda Scott-Park there was always a happy atmosphere which is surely preferable to the misery now being experienced. Shame on you all who have caused this fiasco!!

Mrs K. Irvine, Bearsden , East Dunbartonshire

I am entirely unsurprised at this story but delighted it is out there. This 'charity' will be VERY VERY unhappy about this. I am aware of another gagged senior vet in Newcastle who worked for the organisation for many many years and who was turfed out last year 'following another visit by Susan Mooney'.

Strange how Susan Mooney's name appears in all these stories. And Jan McLoughlin's. It is in the public interest the management of this 'charitable' organisation was looked into.

Sarah Ann Gray, Gateshead, UK

I worked at the Shamrock street clinic in Glasgow as a vet for 4 years along side Sue Henderson and Catherine (Kate)Goldie. These two ladies are impeccably honest, dedicated to their jobs and to the animals. They were exceptional vets and a delight to work with. If the PDSA are losing staff like this then something is seriously wrong. Workers such as these cannot be replaced like for like. You cannot find vets of this calibre and experience and this length of service who would want to quit established careers to work at the PDSA ,especially now word is getting round the veterinary community of Sue and Kate’s treatment!
I have heard that many of the remaining staff are very unhappy and seeking alternative employment. Sounds like the management need a health check themselves!!
Penny Brighton, BVMS, MRCVS

Penny Brighton, Pontefract, West Yorkshire