Employers in the NHS are being urged to build a culture where staff are able to expose bad practice. A new guide, Speak up for a Healthy NHS, will advise employers how to set up arrangements to ensure staff feel comfortable and secure if they want to report bad practice.
The guide, launched at the NHS Confederation’s annual conference, will also help employers to review current whistle-blowing arrangements so staff can raise concerns about malpractice or potential risks to patient safety. This underlines Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s commitment to high standards of clinical care and governance.
Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, said: “Publication of this guide is an important step in developing a culture of patient safety. NHS staff need to be free to raise concerns and shielded from any backlash. To make sure staff know about their rights, and are supported, the local NHS must champion this guide in their own organisations."
Copies of the guidance are available at: www.socialpartnershipforum.org
