NHS whistle-blower support scheme to roll out across the country

The NHS in England is to roll out dedicated support for members of staff who raise the alarm on unsafe practice.

Following successful pilots, the NHS will soon offer practical support to any doctor, nurse, or other worker across the country who needs additional support to build their career after raising concerns at work, as part of the NHS Long Term Plan to improve care and treatment.

The move to ramp up support for whistle-blowers is part of a package of measures to put a renewed focus on the wellbeing of patients under NHS care and follows publication earlier this year of a world-first patient safety strategy, which included a requirement for every local health service to have a dedicated patient safety specialist.

Evidence shows that health services delivering a higher quality of patient care are more likely to have a positive speaking up culture.

Simon Stevens, NHS Chief Executive said: “NHS staff raise concerns because they care about our patients, and every member of our workforce – midwife, therapist, cleaner, surgeon or receptionist – who spots and reports poor practice should be supported to help put things right."

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Source: NHS England, 8 October 2019