NHS whistleblowers to get more support

Released 09/06/2010

Health Secretary outlines plans to tackle culture of secrecy, fear and bullying

Health Secretary Andrew Lansley has called for better safeguards against NHS whistleblowers in the aftermath of the failings in patient care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust

In announcing a full public inquiry into the failings, Lansley called for robust new safeguards for whistleblowers

Lansley announced immediate plans to tackle the culture of secrecy, fear and bullying among staff at the hospital identified by previous inquiries, setting out new measures to strengthen protection for NHS staff who whistle blow.

The measures will both encourage staff to raise concerns and ensure that they are listened to when they do and include:
• reinforcing rights and responsibilities for staff and employers in the NHS Constitution;
• issuing new guidance to the NHS stating that contracts of employment should cover whistle blowing;
• and supporting staff that raise concerns.

He said: "The NHS must prioritise the people it serves and listen to the doctors and nurses who work in it. I have today set out how I intend to strengthen protection for NHS whistleblowers. Last week we began to publish more transparent data about the NHS so people can hold their local services to account. And yesterday I set out one of the ways we will focus the NHS on improving patient outcomes by reducing hospital readmissions.

"But this alone is not enough. We need a culture change in the NHS that puts patients first - an NHS that listens to patients and responds to their concerns and needs. If patients at Stafford had been listened to and prioritised over processes and targets these terrible failings would have been challenged sooner."

The Inquiry, to be chaired by Robert Francis QC, will seek to expose how events at the Trust went undetected and unchallenged for so long by the wider regulatory and supervisory bodies responsible for monitoring the performance of the Trust.

Dr Hamish Meldrum, chairman of Council at the BMA, said: "It often takes a huge amount of courage to raise concerns about patient care. NHS staff who speak out on behalf of their patients should be protected as much as possible, and it is outrageous that they are often either ignored or threatened with a range of sanctions. We welcome this commitment to greater protections for those who raise concerns, and look forward to seeing detailed proposals."

Return to news

Comments

2010-06-12 19:20:13

The following link raise questions on the efficacy of The Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA). http://www.doctors4justice.net/2010/03/whistleblowing-in-uk-problems-and.html Another alarming issue is that at times, criminal charges are pressed by the employers against whistleblowers which are either dropped or end up without any conviction or caution but the Chief Police Officer has discretion to disclose them under 'OTHER RELEVANT INFORATION' section of CRB disclosure. I believe this is another example of 'Medical and Organized Mobbing' which can clearly be seen in the following link. http://www.doctors4justice.net/2010/04/organised-mobbing-british-oppressive.html GMC itself has recognized the obstacles of raising concerns, http://www.gmc-uk.org/guidance/ethical_guidance/raising_concerns.asp 'Obstacles to reporting 4. You may be reluctant to report concerns for a variety of reasons including, for example because you fear that this may cause problems for colleagues, adversely affect working relationships, have a negative impact on your career or result in a complaint about you. If you are hesitating about reporting a concern for these reasons, you should bear in mind that: your duty to put patients' interests first and act to protect them must override personal and professional loyalties Raising a concern 8. Be clear, honest and objective about the reason for your concern. Acknowledge any personal grievance that may arise from the situation, but focus on the issue of patient safety.' and advise us to face any complaint which may arise as a consequence of raising concern/s. My queries are, 1. Who will dare to speak if he ends up losing his job and good reputation and who will employ a doctor with unfounded allegations showing up in his CRB disclosure. 2. Is there any way whereby the GMC can be urged to update its guidelines on raising concerns with clear support for whistleblowers and also to ensure the Government make appropriate changes in the legislation and not to label genuine whistleblowers as 'criminals'. 3. I suggest, unfounded allegations should not be a part of enhanced CRB disclosure if the whistleblower is quitted or charges dropped.

Share this page!