Monday 28 November 2022 11:18 PM Junior doctor, 35, killed herself after being 'belittled' at work and ... trends now
A 35-year-old junior doctor who felt 'belittled' at work tragically killed herself after struggling to cope during the Covid pandemic, an inquest has found.
Dr Vaishnavi Kumar, of Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital, previously told how the pandemic had 'taken its toll' and took a lethal mixture of medication before waiting more than three hours to call for an ambulance.
By the time she arrived at City Hospital Dr Kumar was critically ill.
Despite resuscitation attempts over 90 minutes in a bid to reverse the effects of the overdose, Dr Kumar passed away just after 7am on June 22.
Her father Ravi Kumar, who is also a doctor, told Birmingham Coroner's Court earlier today that her daughter felt the Queen Elizabeth Hospital was a 'hypercritical environment to work in'.
Dr Vaishnavi Kumar, of Birmingham Queen Elizabeth Hospital, previously told how the pandemic had 'taken its toll' and took a lethal cocktail of medication before waiting more than three hours to call for an ambulance
Giving evidence at the inquest, he said: 'She used to say it was a very hypercritical place. They used to pick up small little things, belittle and be a bit condescending in the way they used to behave there.
'Most of the time she used to come back home and cry a little bit. There was one particular incident she was mentioning, one of the consultants scoffed at her doing the handover of an acute case.
'In full public view, she was laughed at. It was very insensitive and she was really very upset at that time.'
Her father said his daughter did not make any complaints about any colleague's behaviour and 'got on with her job'.
The medic, who specialised in diabetes and endocrinology, hoped to finish her placement and accept a position at the Royal Stoke University Hospital.
Dr Kumar's father Ravi Kumar, who is also a doctor, told Birmingham Coroner's Court earlier today that her daughter felt the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (pictured) was a 'hypercritical environment to work in'
However, her father said when she knew she was not moving to a different hospital, 'that is when she really started going down'.
He said: 'She was struggling to cope from December 2021 onwards. She would say ''I don't want to stay at the QE anymore. I'm looking forward to going to Stoke Hospital''.'
The inquest was told that Dr Kumar had voluntarily requested to stay at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, with her email request accepted and extended by the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust for a further six months.
The hearing was also told she was grieving the loss of her grandfather, who died in March.
But Dr Kumar's career was said to be flourishing. Despite a 40-day absence, the talented doctor had caught up with training, which included an e-portfolio, and assessments needed to complete her junior doctor qualification, the hearing was told.
Her training supervisor Dr John Ayuk,
