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Steve Turner

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Profile Information

  • First name
    Steve
  • Last name
    Turner
  • Country
    United Kingdom

About me

  • About me
    Registered general & mental health nurse prescriber with a background including clinical education & governance, social policy, and information technology. WhistleblowersUK Health spokesperson, and co-chair of the WBUK Healthcare Whistleblowing Focus Group
    Digital profile: https://linktr.ee/stevemedgov
  • Organisation
    Founder of Care Right Now CIC
  • Role
    Managing Director - Now retired

Recent Profile Visitors

6,344 profile views
  1. Content Article
    "Our #health system in the UK is in a mess. It has failed to modernise (by this I mean to become fully accountable to #patients and the public, and truly patient-led). Instead, the system has become more and more hierarchical, bureaucratic and crony ridden, mostly as a result of constant meddling and pointless reorganisations instigated by politicians. All political parties in government for the past 30 years have had a hand in this decline." This is my view? What is yours? A new Inquiry gives us all an opportunity to have our say. I am proud to have worked in and for the NHS for most of my working life; proud to have been trained in the #NHS and proud of the work being carried out by clinical teams today. Great work which has benefited patients, often not because of the leadership but despite of the leadership. I'm retired so I can say what I like. If I were working and said anything even vaguely like criticism, however constructive it was, I would be out of a job and my career would be blighted for life. I'm speaking from experience here, unfortunately. I urge everyone to respond to the consultation (link below). In your response think forensically and write it as a statement of truth. Acknowledge the successes and areas that have delivered safe and effective services. If you are being critical give examples and say if it is an opinion or back up what you say with evidence. If we work together across boundaries we can develop a truly patient-led NHS.
  2. Article Comment
    Our health system in the UK is in a mess. It has failed to modernise (by this I mean to become fully accountable to patients and the public, and truly patient-led). Instead, the system has become more and more hierarchical, bureaucratic and crony ridden, mostly as a result of constant meddling & pointless reorganisations instigated by politicians. All political parties in governement for the past 30 years have had a hand in this decline. This is hard for me to say as I am proud to have worked in and for the NHS for most of my working life; proud to have been trained in the #NHS and proud of the work being carried out by clinical teams today. Great work which has benefited patients often not because of the leadership, but despite of the leadership. I'm retired so I can say what I like. If I were working and said anything even vaguely like criticism, however constructive it was, I would be out of a job and my career would be blighted for life. I'm speaking from experience here, unfortunately.
  3. Article Comment
    This is interesting and important, Rob Behrens (PHSO) reminded us all of the Messenger Review in the APPG for Whistleblowing Westminster Round Table Meeting in November 2023. It's a step forward, but we need to be vigilant, this could easily fall into the pile of endless reviews that lead to nowhere. Senior people's jobs and reputations are at risk, they will fight like mad to protect their positions and (as we see with the Post Office scandal) they will lie.
  4. Content Article Comment
    Time to act. Time to actually learn lessons. Time to change the law to protect patients. Time to join the dots and prevent further tragedies. There is an opportunity to link the planned inquiry, which I agree must be a statutory inquiry, to the current government review of the whistleblowing framework: framework: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/review-of-the-whistleblowing-framework/review-of-the-whistleblowing-framework-terms-of-reference
  5. Article Comment
    This tragic case highlights the urgent need for independent external scrutiny of #whistleblowing and a change in the law to protect the public interest. The Protection for Whistleblowing Bill introduces an #Officeofthewhistleblower to help prevent events like this, where people blew the whistle & were silenced. The Pediatricians raised the alarm and were bullied and threatened with referral to the GMC. Current whistleblowing legislation - the Public Interest Disclosure Act [#PIDA] - fails everyone, #patients, relatives, clinicians, #healthcare staff, & the public. The Protection for Whistleblowing Bill [Hl] which passed its second reading in December 2022, proposes the repeal of the current Public Interest Disclosure Act [PIDA], replacing it with an Office of the Whistleblower [OWB]. This would prevent concerns of genuine healthcare whistleblowers becoming buried under an employment issue, and their original patient safety concerns being side-lined. PIDA is expensive, limited in scope and beyond the reach of most whistleblowers. PIDA is also overly complex, with cases currently waiting for over 2 years to be heard. Employers game the system to run whistleblowers out of funds. Fewer than 12% of cases that go to the Employment Tribunal win. PIDA does not protect patients and is not accessible to members of the public who blow the whistle. Currently there is no statutory provision to investigate or address the wrongdoing highlighted by whistleblowers. Many whistleblowers have been denied any protection because they are not workers. This Protection for Whistleblowing Bill Delivers: · Protection for EVERY citizen who is, has been or is perceived to be a whistleblower and those associated with the whistleblower. · Mandatory minimum standards for policies and procedures and Investigations of protected disclosures. · A new judicial process for deciding disputes arising from whistleblowing. · Significant fines and penalties for individuals and organisations that discriminate or retaliate against whistleblowers. · Dedicated helplines, Education and Support for the Public and Organisations and an ongoing Public Awareness Campaign to ensure that every citizen knows their rights and how to access them. I urge everyone with an interest to read the Bill itself and decide on your position based on the facts. For accurate info. on the Protection for #Whistleblowing Bill read it here: https://t.co/mIE77bjNTV
  6. Content Article
    This YouTube playlist containing 12 short vlogs (each lasting 10 minutes or less) is a cut-down version of Continuing Professional Development work commissioned by the NHS in England. These are part of our patient led clinical education work and involved working with patients, carers, and relatives as equals to produce the videos. These vlogs are based on the (UK) Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework for all Prescribers, and related guidelines from professional bodies in the UK. They are designed for clinicians (across all disciplines and specialities), patients, carers, parents, relatives and the public.  The short videos focus on providing refresher information, updates on hot topics and materials that can be used for reflection both individually and within clinical teams.  They cover: Shared decision making Information mastery Interpretation of numerical data Root causes on medicines and prescribing errors Taking a history Basic pharmacology Risk areas and red flags Ethics, the law and prescribing Deprescribing Remote prescribing Prescribing for frailty and multimorbidity Prescription writing and safe prescribing The original materials were accompanied by live sessions, questions for reflection (some of which are included here), separate refresher questions, detailed prescribing scenarios, and competency assessments.  
  7. Content Article Comment
    This important report highlights the #patientsafety minefield that exists in the UK. It is characterised by a fragmented system with both overlaps and gaps, plus very few opportunities for inter-disciplinary / inter-organisational learning. Featuring: - A Patient Safety Commissioner whose remit is limited to medicines and medical devices - A plethora of organisations that 'don't investigate individual concerns' (including Healthwatch and the Patient Safety Commissioner) - A lack of genuine patient involvement - A lack of ownership and leadership at the top #share4safety #health #healthcare #nhs #socialcare
  8. Content Article Comment
    I'm a nurse. I believe in the principle of 'do no harm' So I don't support this initiative in its current form and advise people to take care if they are thinking of talking to the local guardian. They may be able to help, or they may make the situation worse. It depends on their employer. The introduction of the National Guardian Office and Freedom to Speak Up Guardians in each NHS trust is problematic. This initiative has an inbuilt conflict of interest, as the Guardians are employed by the trusts themselves. Whistleblowers who have been failed by local Guardians have shared their experiences that included the disclosure of their identity to hospital management and boards, which resulted in retaliation. I also know of Local Guardians who were not supported and themselves the target of retaliation after supporting whistleblowers. In addition, the National Guardian Office appears to studiously avoid the word ‘#whistleblowing’ in its material and outputs wherever possible. This adds to the stigma around healthcare whistleblowers and is inexcusable. This potential for harm because the Guardians are employed by the trusts is a #patientsafety issue and something that the National Guardian Office should be addressing. Instead, the NG Office seems impossible to engage, with unless you agree 100% with their views and become one of their 'cheerleaders'. Patients deserve better.
  9. Content Article Comment
    What concerns me most about this, far from uncommon, story is the #leadership aspect. There's always been challenges for #healthcare leaders. Challenges when there are widely different perspectives on a situation, when there is ambiguity, when there is disagreement on approaches, when different staff groups and professions have strong views etc. This needs strong and accountable leaders from the top down. Leaders who can negotiate across what is often a 'minefield'. Leaders who support and mentor those who work for them. Leaders who recognize that reputation is judged by what an organization actually does, NOT by what it says it does. Leaders who are prepared to challenge those who set the strategy, and those in power who feel they are 'untouchable'. Leaders who avoid micromanaging, even when they themselves are being micromanaged. Leaders who treat and value everyone as equals, from the cleaner to the SoS for Health. Leaders who are in their posts because they believe that the #NHS 'belongs to the people'
  10. Content Article Comment
    A useful document from the DHSC. It contains vital information for NHS leaders, board members and educators. One anomaly stands out, however. The report lists one of the 'substantial measures' introduced in the last decade as 'legal protection for whistleblowers'. I'm at a loss to know what these improved legal measures are?
  11. Content Article Comment
    Thanks for sharing this important summary of the current harmful system for healthcare whistleblowers. I agree 100%, that the current system of governance fails whistleblowers. In fact, it fails everyone. It appears to be set up this way be design, rather than inadvertently. It's indefensible to have a system whereby the patients and relatives must struggle to have someone independently investigate their concerns, and staff who speak out are victimised and silenced. Even Healthwatch, as I understand it, doesn't investigate individual concerns. You couldn't make this up! Recently I replied to a HSIB survey asking if they investigated 'systematic problems' and the reply was that they don't. So that limits their helpfulness even more. This blog on HSIB and why it has been stripped of maternity investigations, is also interesting & relevant: https://minhalexander.com/2023/04/26/finally-revealed-the-suppressed-susan-newton-report-on-whistleblowing-governance-at-hsib-nhs-england/
  12. Content Article Comment
    Thanks for the comments. These are important points. I agree that U.S. bounty model of “whistleblowing” rewards would be inappropriate for the UK, and the way in which the Office of The Whistleblower provides independent oversight of whistleblowing will be critical. For me, the strengths of this approach are that it crosses all sectors and will include perspectives from other countries. I hope and expect that the core issues relating to whistleblower victimisation in health & social care will surface as a result, so they be dealt with effectively and patients protected. For me, the core issues include those related to leadership style & behaviour, nepotism & cronyism, governance, patient and public involvement, accountability, long-term planning, information and record sharing. If you are interested in patient safety, please read the Protection for #Whistleblowing Bill and assess for yourself the impact this will have, don't rely on someone else's summary of the Bill. 'The Public Interest Disclosure Act [PIDA] fails to address the public interest. PIDA turns patient safety concerns into employment issues. It kicks in after the harm has been done, turning a public interest matter into a costly private dispute. Taking the focus off the core issues. Further harming everyone involved in speaking up. The Office of the Whistleblower will strengthen existing initiatives and bring them together, emphasising prevention and early intervention by the most appropriate route. Right now, there is an elephant in the room. Where staff can't, or don't blow the whistle or are ignored or silenced, the onus to expose wrongdoing falls on patients and their relatives who then have no protection under #PIDA. Their concerns are often treated as individual cases and core learning, which would make services safer across the board, are delayed or even lost.' More information here: Read the Bill here: https://www.appgwhistleblowing.co.uk/ Here's a summary of the benefits of the Protection for Whistleblowing Bill [HL] comparing it to current law.
  13. Content Article
    In this blog, Steve Turner reflects on why genuine patient safety whistleblowers are so frequently ignored, side-lined or victimised. Why staff don't speak out, why measures to change this have not worked and, in some cases, have exacerbated the problems. Steve concludes with optimism that new legislation going through Parliament offers a way forward from which everyone will benefit.
  14. Event Comment

    Here's a link to download the Healthcare Whistleblowing Round Table programme and book onto the session: https://www.carerightnow.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/AWARENESS-WEEK-HEALTH-ROUND-TABLE-INFO.pdf
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