- Conference
- 2003 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 1 December 2002
- Decision
- Carried
Conference believes far too little has been done by the Department of Health and the devolved health departments to tackle the damaging deep-rooted “blame culture” within the Service.
Despite the introduction of clinical governance the search for scapegoats often takes precedence over tackling the root causes of mistakes, and poor practice.
This approach may actually be detrimental in discouraging appropriate action by staff for fear of retribution.
Conference therefore calls for UNISON to:
a.Continue to work with the National Patient Safety Agency and contribute to the implementation of an open and fair culture across the NHS;
b.Bring the most blatant examples of organisational “blame culture” to activists attention both locally, regionally and nationally;
c.Use local, national and regional communication strategies to promote best practice examples of operation of an open and fair culture within the NHS;
d.Press for a radical improvement in the training given to management at all levels in handling mistakes and poor practice – including clear support for a “no blame” approach to poor practice and mistakes wherever possible;
e.Ensure that all staff have the appropriate training, CPD, and Individual Performance Review for their jobs;
f.Develop guidance for stewards and branches on this issue on good practice in handling disciplinary procedures and investigations;
g.Provide further advice to members, stewards and branches on how to best handle the bullying environment which is responsible for much of the current culture of blame within the NHS.
h.