West Suffolk Review (9 December 2021)

Summary

Findings from an independent review, commissioned by NHS Improvement in February 2020, at the request of the Department for Health and Social Care, into the handling of whistleblowing at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Content

Christine Outram MBE, working to terms of reference, oversaw the investigation and assessment of the Trust’s handling and circumstances surrounding concerns raised in an anonymous letter sent to the relative of a patient who had died at the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

The purpose of the Review was twofold:

• To consider the appropriateness of the actions taken in response to the issues raised by/ connected with the October letter by the Trust and other relevant bodies.
• To produce advisory recommendations and learnings.

The Review did not consider the cause of death of the patient at the Trust, which was the subject of a coroner’s Inquest.

The independent review also covers the effectiveness of the Trust’s Freedom to Speak Up and HR policies and processes, including Maintaining High Professional Standards (MHPS).

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust's response to the review