It will be good to see the statistics in say 6 months time how many whistleblowing concerns have been logged, looked into and dealt with. Joanna
MENTAL health NHS staff in North Staffordshire have been given a new website to directly whistle-blow anonymously to their boss. It has been ordered by Combined Healthcare chief executive Caroline Donovan after Stafford Hospital investigator Sir Robert Francis called for workers to be encouraged to speak out freely about bad practice. The site is called “Dear Caroline” which contains a form for worried staff to complete and send securely to her. But she insisted it would not replace her “open-door” inviting any of the trust’s 1,800 workforce to raise concerns face to face.
Mrs Donovan said: “People should feel free to speak out about issues which are getting in the way of us delivering the highest quality
care. “It is essential that we continue to improve our culture enabling anyone to challenge without fear of any reprisal.” Any emerging themes will be published on the Trentham lakes-based trust’s full website.
She added: “I realise this may raise difficult and challenging issues which may affect our senior leaders, but it signals a commitment that together we want to improve the culture enabling us to be a great place to be work and receive treatment.”
The Sentinel
Filed under: Hospital, NHS, Whistleblowing
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS 