Whistleblowing failure 'puts children at risk'
Lauren Higgs
Monday, July 25, 2011
Child safety in hospitals is being jeopardised by government's failure to promote whistleblowing guidance to health professionals, a charity has warned.
The comments come in the midst of accusations over Great Ormond Street Hospital's involvement in the Peter Connelly case.
Liberal Democrat MP and equalities minister Lynne Featherstone has been campaigning on behalf of whistleblower Dr Kim Holt, who raised concerns about the hospital's child protection practices before the death of Peter Connelly, but was subsequently put on "special leave" by her employers. The hospital's trust has strongly denied Featherstone's claims of a "cover-up".
Francesca West, policy director at Public Concern at Work, warned that media stories about professionals who have spoken out but have been treated badly risk deterring workers from raising the alarm about bad practice.
"It's absolutely vital that health professionals feel they can speak up in the NHS," she said. "We've produced lots of guidance to help organisations listen to their staff. The government should be out there saying there is good guidance available and there's no excuse for it not be reflected on the ground.
"A good trust will realise that whistleblowing is a vital tool for managing the kind of risks that come up every day in a healthcare setting, which is all the more vital when you're talking about safeguarding children."
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the General Medical Council, said doctors must raise concerns without delay if they think patient safety is being compromised.
"Doctors in management roles have a duty to respond promptly and professionally to concerns," he said. "We are looking at further ways to encourage doctors to raise concerns about patient safety. We would encourage all health and social care professionals to participate in our consultation on good medical practice, which includes these issues.
"Our experience is that attitudes about raising concerns have improved over recent years but more needs to be done to give all doctors greater confidence and support in this area."
The Department of Health said there will not be a further inquiry into Great Ormond Street, with a spokesman saying the hospital "has acknowledged and apologised for its part in those events".
