04.04.16
First national policy to protect whistleblowers published
The first national policy to protect whistleblowers in the NHS was published on Friday by the newly formed NHS Improvement.
The policy is designed to encourage NHS employers to speak up over concerns such as unsafe patient care or working conditions, inadequate training, poor responses to safety incidents, fraud and bullying cultures.
The policy advises whistleblowers to raise concerns initially with their supervisor and then with their local Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, implemented following recommendations by Sir Robert Francis. However, the Freedom to Speak Up scheme is not yet fully implemented and the first National Guardian for NHS whistleblowers, Dame Eileen Sills, resigned recently after just two months.
Dr Kathy Mclean, executive medical Director at NHS Improvement, said: “Staff working in the NHS are often the first to spot any issues with the safety or quality of patient care, and to make improvements quickly it is essential that they feel able to speak up.
“When Sir Robert Francis did his review on the Freedom to Speak Up, he said that raising concerns should be part of normal routine business for any well-led NHS organisation, and that a national policy would help make this happen. This policy will help standardise the approach to whistleblowing across the NHS, so that we can embed continuous improvement into how the NHS works.
“I want NHS staff to feel that any concern raised is an opportunity to learn and improve care, and we will help NHS organisations to implement this policy and foster free and supportive staff cultures.”
NHS England also invited consultation responses on new guidance for whistleblowing in the primary care sector. Further details are available, here.
Danny Mortimer, chief executive of NHS Employers, said: “Employers are committed to ensuring that every member of staff feel able to raise any concerns and know that appropriate action will be taken. We know a lot of work has gone into reviewing and improving policies and practice and this policy will help employers with the work they are doing.
“We are also pleased to see that employers can incorporate their local processes into this national standard policy - employers will now want to review the documentation in partnership with their local staff representatives and agree the best way to engage and communicate with staff.”
To view the policy, click here.