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09/06/2010
Whistleblower Commitment Welcomed
Top doctors have welcomed a commitment to greater protection for NHS so-called 'whistleblowers'.
Commenting on the Health Secretary's announcement today that the Government will set out new measures to protect NHS staff who raise concerns, Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the British Medical Association (BMA), said: "It often takes a huge amount of courage to raise concerns about patient care.
"NHS staff who speak out on behalf of their patients should be protected as much as possible, and it is outrageous that they are often either ignored or threatened with a range of sanctions.
"We welcome this commitment to greater protections for those who raise concerns, and look forward to seeing detailed proposals," he said.
Also, commenting on the announcement of a full public inquiry into failings at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Meldrum added: "As everyone recognises, the failures in patient care at Mid-Staffordshire must never be allowed to happen again.
"The BMA has already taken steps to support members with concerns about quality of care, and looks forward to co-operating fully with the public inquiry."
The news of the inquiry into what the Government called "the appalling failings in patient care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust" was announced today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
It is to be chaired by Robert Francis QC, and will have the full statutory force of the Public Inquiries Act 2005 including the power to compel witnesses to attend and speak under oath.
It will seek to expose how events at the Trust went undetected and unchallenged for so long by the wider regulatory and supervisory bodies responsible for monitoring the performance of the Trust.
The Health Secretary also announced immediate plans to tackle the culture of secrecy, fear and bullying among staff at the hospital identified by previous inquiries, setting out new measures to strengthen protection for NHS staff who 'whistleblow' by passing-on their fears to the proper authorities.
(BMcC/GK)
Commenting on the Health Secretary's announcement today that the Government will set out new measures to protect NHS staff who raise concerns, Dr Hamish Meldrum, Chairman of Council at the British Medical Association (BMA), said: "It often takes a huge amount of courage to raise concerns about patient care.
"NHS staff who speak out on behalf of their patients should be protected as much as possible, and it is outrageous that they are often either ignored or threatened with a range of sanctions.
"We welcome this commitment to greater protections for those who raise concerns, and look forward to seeing detailed proposals," he said.
Also, commenting on the announcement of a full public inquiry into failings at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Meldrum added: "As everyone recognises, the failures in patient care at Mid-Staffordshire must never be allowed to happen again.
"The BMA has already taken steps to support members with concerns about quality of care, and looks forward to co-operating fully with the public inquiry."
The news of the inquiry into what the Government called "the appalling failings in patient care at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust" was announced today by Health Secretary Andrew Lansley.
It is to be chaired by Robert Francis QC, and will have the full statutory force of the Public Inquiries Act 2005 including the power to compel witnesses to attend and speak under oath.
It will seek to expose how events at the Trust went undetected and unchallenged for so long by the wider regulatory and supervisory bodies responsible for monitoring the performance of the Trust.
The Health Secretary also announced immediate plans to tackle the culture of secrecy, fear and bullying among staff at the hospital identified by previous inquiries, setting out new measures to strengthen protection for NHS staff who 'whistleblow' by passing-on their fears to the proper authorities.
(BMcC/GK)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
