Protections for NHS staff to speak out about wrongdoing may be insufficient to prevent another major scandal like that at Mid Staffordshire hospital trust, an expert has warned. Sir Robert Francis, who led the inquiry into hundreds of patient deaths at Stafford Hospital more than a decade ago, says despite subsequent attempts to encourage whistleblowing, some still pay a heavy price for speaking up.
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, the NHS National Guardian responsible for protecting whistleblowers in England, also says too many managers in the health service are still not protecting those who raise concerns from victimisation or bullying. A record number of more than 25,000 NHS whistleblowers came forward last year, up by a quarter on the previous year, raising issues such as patient safety and bullying.
Tristan Reuser, a senior eye surgeon at University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB), became a whistleblower when he complained about a lack of nursing staff after feeling forced to use a non-medical colleague to help with an urgent operation. Instead of addressing the issue, management turned on him. He was investigated, suspended, sacked, and reported to the General Medical Council, which found no case to answer. An employment tribunal later ruled he had been unfairly dismissed.
Sir Robert said: 'There is a danger of it happening again when pressures similar to those that existed at the time of Mid Staffs come about. The way to stop it is to think all the time about the culture and make sure you've got an open culture, a supportive one and one that treats the patient first by listening to the staff's concerns about them.' He added that failing to listen to staff is often a sign of poor leadership.
Many whistleblowers who spoke to BBC News did not want to be identified, citing victimisation, isolation, and fear of referral to medical regulators or losing their jobs. One doctor, referred to as Dr A, raised patient safety concerns only to find themselves under investigation.
