Last Updated: 7 May 2003

NHS staff take the rap for defending patient safety

(7/5/03) The vast majority of NHS staff are prepared to blow the whistle on bad practice where it may affect patient safety, according to a new report published today.

However, one third of those suffered reprisals for speaking out.

And UNISON has condemned as “appalling” the fact that conscientious staff are victimised for looking out for patients and fellow workers.

The survey of more than 2,000 health workers, the first of its kind, was carried out by the charity Public Concern at Work, on behalf of UNISON.

Public Concern canvassed almost the entire health team, other than doctors: from nurses, midwives, cleaners, technicians, paramedics and therapists, to porters, managers and clinical scientists.

It discovered that, despite personal risk, many NHS workers do speak up for patient safety.

But many others are frightened of raising concerns, particularly about unsafe staffing levels, government targets/waiting lists, risks caused by other staff and a bullying culture.

"It is simply appalling that staff say they are victimised if they blow the whistle on bad practice in the NHS,” said Karen Jennings, UNISON's head of health.

“It is essential for staff to be able to raise concerns about standards of patient care or staff safety, without the fear of reprisals.

“Employers must have clear whistleblowing policies, that are open and easily accessible to everyone.”

The key findings of the report were:

• 90% of staff had blown the whistle when they had concerns about patient safety



• 50% did not know if their trust had a whistleblowing policy



• 33% say their trust would want them to blow the whistle, even if it resulted in bad publicity



• 30% say their trust would not want to be told there was a major problem



• Of those who had blown the whistle on a patient safety matter, one third said they had suffered some personal comeback



• Half of those polled said that their concerns were dealt with reasonably – rising to two out of three in those places where a whistleblowing policy was in place.

UNISON’s revelations follow hot on the heels of another survey conducted by Public Concern, that showed that UK firms pay out at least £10m a year to whistleblowers they have sacked.

The massive pay-outs results from government protection for whistleblowers, enshrined in its Public Interest Disclosure Act.

"The government has introduced a number of key initiatives designed to make whistleblowing work,” said Jennings.

“But there is a reality gap between what the government is trying to achieve and what is happening on the ground. NHS staff are trying to respond to central government policy, but too many trusts are not. This is simply unacceptable."