The RCN has launched phone line to allow members to talk in confidence about patient safety concerns at their workplace.
This information will be used to support the nurse to raise concerns and, if needed, the RCN will step in to investigate concerns directly with employers. RCN members can also report their concerns using a form on the RCN website: www.rcn.org.uk/raisingconcerns The launch coincided with the publication of a survey of over 5,000 RCN members which showed that nearly two-thirds of nurses raised concerns about patient safety with their employers but more than one in three said no action was taken. The RCN survey found:
• 78% of respondents said they would be concerned about victimisation, personal reprisals or a negative effect on their career if they were to report concerns to their employers.
• 21% had been discouraged or told directly not to report concerns at their workplace.
• 99% of registered nurses understood their professional responsibility to report worries about patient safety but fears about personal reprisals meant that only 43% would be confident to report concerns without thinking twice. The RCN is demanding significant changes to the way that employers respond to staff concerns, while calling for the following:
• All healthcare organisations to hold a register of staff concerns that must be reported to their Board regularly.
• All healthcare employers to immediately make a public pledge that gives a categorical commitment that staff will be protected from victimisation and reprisals if they speak out.
• Employers to take urgent action to make sure that all employees are fully aware of whistle-blowing policies and procedures.
