Whistleblower report finds NHS staff afraid to speak out

A review, led by Sir Robert Francis QC, has heard “shocking” stories about staff being afraid to speak up, because they are apprehensive about being intimidated, ignored or bullied.

Sir Robert warned that a “significant proportion” of NHS workers would not voice their concerns, either because they felt nothing would be done, or because they were afraid of the possible consequences.

One of the chief concerns identified was the way in which “whistleblowers” were treated, some having experienced bullying and intimidation.

Sir Robert said, “Time and time again people say to me they either want to complain about the behaviour of others towards them or, when they do raise a concern about the working environment or the way patients are being treated, the reaction to them has been one of being bullied.”

Sir Robert, who has led two previous inquiries into the Mid Staffordshire scandal, was asked by Jeremy Hunt, Health Secretary for England, to investigate how to create an “honest and open” culture of reporting within the NHS.

He said that the response to his review was “very impressive”.

Around 19,000 people answered an online survey and over 600 had communicated directly with their experiences.

Sir Robert said that he knew from previous enquiries of the suffering caused to patients and families when their concerns were ignored, and the same was true of NHS staff.

“I’ve heard some frankly shocking stories about (staff) whose health has suffered, and in rare cases who’ve felt suicidal as a result of their perception of them being ignored or worse,” he said.

He did however praise changes in the health service to improve transparency and accountability in the last two years.

“I think there’s been tremendous progress made since my two reports. I’m not seeking to claim credit for that, but the conversation that happens in the NHS today is of an entirely different nature to what it was a few years ago.”

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said there had been significant changes made to the NHS since the Mid Staffordshire scandal, but he said “more needs to be done”, adding that “this is why we asked Sir Robert to carry out this important piece of work”.

“We agree with Sir Robert that listening to patients and staff is absolutely vital and will be responding to this report later today,” he said.

The Patients First campaign group have welcomed Sir Robert’s remarks, saying “We believe that those staff who are brave enough to raise patient safety concerns should be treasured, not bullied, and look to Jeremy Hunt to decisively act to help change the prevailing culture in large parts of the NHS and protect such staff.”

Chadwick Lawrence’s specialist team of clinical negligence lawyers have years of experience in Medical negligence compensation claims, and have obtained substantial compensation for our clients. Not only do we represent clients in Yorkshire, but because of our reputation we also represent clients nationally.

If you believe that you or a relative may have been injured as a result of clinical/Medical negligence, please call for free legal advice from our Medical negligence solicitors on the freephone number below.

Posted by Tony May, Partner/head of Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (tonymay@chadlaw.co.uk ), Medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Freephone : 0800 028 2969