National guidance for NHS staff on speaking up in NHS Scotland (21 July 2026)

Summary

This guidance has been developed in partnership between the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (Independent National Whistleblowing Officer) and Healthcare Improvement Scotland.

This work follows Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde Emergency Department Review (March 2025), which recommended the development of clear and unambiguous guidance on national processes for raising concerns under Whistleblowing and the Public Interest Disclosure Act, with the aim to help NHS boards strengthen their arrangements and improve staff understanding.

Speaking up is essential to safe, high-quality care. Staff, contractors, volunteers and students are often the first to notice when something may not be right. It is vital they feel confident, supported and clear about what to do next.

Awareness of how to raise concerns, and confidence in using existing processes, is not always consistent. For some, it can feel unclear or difficult to know where to go.

This guidance is designed to make speaking up simpler, clearer and easier to navigate. It sets out:

• what speaking up means
• when and how to raise a concern
• the different routes available for advice and action.

The aim is to remove uncertainty and make it easier for people to speak up.

Everyone who delivers NHS services in Scotland should feel assured that their voice matters, and that there are clear, confidential and supportive routes available to them.

Content

Speaking up is essential to safe, high-quality care. Staff, contractors, volunteers and students are often the first to notice when something may not be right. It is vital they feel confident, supported and clear about what to do next.

Awareness of how to raise concerns, and confidence in using existing processes, is not always consistent. For some, it can feel unclear or difficult to know where to go.

This guidance is designed to make speaking up simpler, clearer and easier to navigate. It sets out:

• what speaking up means
• when and how to raise a concern
• the different routes available for advice and action.

The aim is to remove uncertainty and make it easier for people to speak up.

Everyone who delivers NHS services in Scotland should feel assured that their voice matters, and that there are clear, confidential and supportive routes available to them.