NHS Whistleblower Plans Welcomed

Leading bodies are welcoming moves to make thre NHS more open to criticism from its workers.

Health Secretary Shona Robison will outline her plans to create a national whistelblowing officer, and one for every health board, at an event later.

The BMA and RCN are happy with the plans, it comes after a whistleblower raised concerns about how Ninewells hospital was exceeding A&e waiting time targets.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Scotland Associate Director for Employment Relations, Norman Provan, said:

“Large numbers of nurses have genuine concerns about their ability to provide a safe and good quality service because of a lack of resources, according to both our own and NHS Scotland’s staff surveys. Yet, in many situations, nurses and others do not feel able to raise these concerns, or that it is worth doing so. That’s why we met with the then First Minister and party leaders last year to ask for a whistleblowing champion on every health board to hold the Board to account. This will assure NHS staff that the positive whistleblowing policies that we have in NHS Scotland are being put into practice, robustly and effectively. Those initial discussions we had last year are now coming to fruition.

“It’s important that the Scottish Government continues to work with us and the other NHS trade unions to ensure that whistleblowing is genuinely effective so that staff, patients and the public have faith in the NHS Scotland whistleblowing system. That way problems with patient care will be resolved and staff can get on with providing the high quality care that they so clearly want to.”

Commenting on the Scottish Government's announcement, Dr Peter Bennie, chair of the BMA in Scotland said:

"Doctors tell us that they fear raising concerns or 'whistleblowing' for the possible impact it could have on their career or their relationship with colleagues.  Many also believe that they won't be listened to or it won't make a difference. So it is important that we end this culture where people don't feel able to speak up.

"No-one should be victimised for raising a concern.  It often takes a huge amount of courage, but doctors have both the right and duty to speak out, and they should be supported to do so.

"We must ensure that there is an environment in which those who have genuine concerns are listened to and safeguarded.  And where staff know that by raising concerns they can contribute towards positive change. The appointment of an independent national officer, is a welcome step towards improving that culture."