Freedom to Speak Up Review
The Freedom to Speak Up Review was a review into whistleblowing in the NHS in England. It was announced on 24 June 2014 and it was chaired by Sir Robert Francis.[1][2] The review was originally expected to report in November 2014 but took longer because of a huge volume of input material: 17,500 online responses and 600 postal responses.[3]
The report was published on 11 February 2015.[4]
Recommendations
Francis outlined twenty principles and associated actions, then concluded by making just two recommendations:[5]
- for all NHS organisations and regulators to implement all the principles and actions;
- for the Secretary of State to review progress annually.
The twenty principles to allow a consistent approach to raising concerns, while still allowing some flexibility, included:[6]
- Culture of raising concerns - to make raising issues a part of normal routine business of any well-led NHS organisation.
- Culture free from bullying - freedom of staff to speak out relies on staff being able to work in a culture which is free from bullying.
- Training - every member of staff should receive training in their trust's approach to raising concerns and in receiving and acting on them.
- Support - all NHS trusts should ensure there is a dedicated person to whom concerns can be easily reported and without formality, a "speak up guardian" .
- Support to find alternative employment in the NHS - where a worker who has raised a concern cannot, as a result, continue their role, the NHS should help them seek an alternative job.
Reactions
Many campaigners claimed that the recommendations did not go far enough.[6][7][8][4]
National Guardian
In January 2016 Eileen Sills was appointed as the first Freedom to Speak Up National Guardian for the NHS.[9][10][11] She resigned two months later, citing that she did not have sufficient time to combine this role with her other work.[12]
See also
References
- ^ Sophie Borland Daily Mail (25 June 2014) NHS is still gripped by a culture of fear: Inquiry into whistleblowing set up by barrister who investigated Mid Staffs
- ^ Freedom to Speak Up website
- ^ Sophie Borland Daily Mail (21 January 2015) Probe into NHS whistleblowers is swamped by 18,000 replies: Officials tried to push back report after being deluged with comments by concerned staff
- ^ a b Campbell, Denis (11 February 2015). "NHS whistleblowers report offers no prescription for ending cover-up culture". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Walsh, Peter (November 2014). "Francis's Freedom to Speak Up review: An openness and transparency revolution or just another report?". Clinical Risk. 20 (6): 128. doi:10.1177/1356262215575958.
- ^ a b Lizzie Parry Daily Mail (11 February 2015) Climate of fear leaves NHS whistleblowers 'on the brink of suicide' says report but campaigners warn new measures to protect workers 'don't go far enough'
- ^ Patrick Sawer, Laura Donnelly The Telegraph (11 February 2015) Whistleblowing: 'It's still not safe for us to speak out'
- ^ Sophie Borland, Claire Ellicott, Daniel Martin Daily Mail (12 February 2015) Whistleblower whitewash: Health staff who dare to speak out will still not be protected, says report
- ^ Dame Eileen Sills Care Quality Commission website 7 Jan 2016
- ^ CQC appoints first National Guardian for the freedom to speak up in the NHS Care Quality Commission website 7 Jan 2016
- ^ The National Freedom to Speak Up Guardian for the NHS Care Quality Commission website 7 Jan 2016
- ^ http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/08/nhs-national-guardian-resigns-post-eileen-sills