Speaking up for patient safety: Michael Swinn in conversation with Peter Duffy and Helen Hughes

Summary

In this podcast interview series, NHS whistleblower Peter Duffy and Patient Safety Learning’s Chief Executive Helen Hughes explore how the healthcare system responds when its staff raise concerns about patient safety. In each episode, Helen and Peter interview someone who has spoken up about patient safety issues in healthcare organisations, or who works to help staff raise concerns where they see unsafe care.

In this episode, Helen and Peter speak to Michael Swinn, a consultant urological surgeon in Surrey. Mike talks about his time at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Redhill, and how he and his colleagues became concerned about patient care and the struggles they encountered trying to persuade hospital managers to listen. Mike reflects on why senior managers are more interested in limiting corporate reputational damage than protecting patients and the lack of support he received when the case eventually went to court. He describes the impact it has had on his mental health and on his family, but why he doesn't regret speaking up and would do so again.

Content

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Transcript of the interview

Read a blog from Peter and Helen about the interview series

About the author

Michael Swinn is a Consultant Urological Surgeon in Surrey. He was appointed to the Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Redhill, in 2004 and in 2013 moved half his sessions to The Royal Surrey Foundation Trust, Guildford, where he helped set up the region’s cystectomy service. 

Soon after being appointed Clinical Lead of Urology at his host Trust in Redhill in 2006, he became concerned regarding levels of patient safety. Unfortunately, his and his colleagues’ pleas for senior management to act were roundly ignored for many years. When action was eventually taken much harm had sadly by then been done to many patients. 

The whole, lengthy process was frustrating and painful for all concerned and in an attempt to draw attention to systemic failings and to campaign for change, he published a book called "Hitting Your Head Against A Brick Wall” in 2024.