The Clinical Services Journal reports on the findings of the recently published Freedom to Speak up review, which investigate the issues surrounding whistleblowing and the changes needed to create a more honest reporting culture in the NHS.
An independent review into the reporting culture in the NHS was requested by Jeremy Hunt, The Secretary of State for Health, in June 2014 to give recommendations that would help ensure NHS staff feel it is safe to raise patient safety concerns.
The Freedom to speak up review was led by Sir Robert Francis. It sought a wide range of views from across the NHS, including first hand experiences from staff who had raised a concern and reported that they had suffered some form of detriment as a result of doing so; employers, professional and system regulators; and other professional bodies.
The recently published Review concludes that there remains a culture, within many parts of the NHS, that deters staff from raising serious and sensitive concerns and which can have negative consequences for those that do raise concerns. Although many cases are handled well, too many are not, says the Review. This has a disproportionate impact on others who are deterred from speaking up by the fear of adverse consequences or the belief that nothing will be done. It puts patients at risk. It is important that all who raise concerns, and all who respond to them, behave with empathy and understanding of others, focusing together on patient safety and the public interest.
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