Legal News
NHS Launches Helpline for Whistle-blowers (3 January 2012)
Date: 03/01/2012
The NHS has launched a new helpline for whistle-blowers it has been announced. The helpline has been set-up to ensure that NHS staff can raise concerns over care standards in the absence of fearing reprisal. Whistle-blowers’ groups have claimed that the helpline shows that the NHS has failed to provide staff with adequate internal procedures for reporting concerning.
The new helpline, operated by the Royal Mencap Society, allows staff to raise concerns free of charge. The helpline will be in operation weekdays between the hours of 08:00 GMT and 18:00 GMT. An out-of-hours answering service will operate during weekends and on bank holidays. Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, has described whistle-blowing staff as “crucial” in raising standards and the Government has claimed that it is “determined” to provide adequate support to staff would decide to raise concerns. Mr. Lansley has told of how the helpline will make it easier for NHS staff to challenge institutional powers.
Dr. Kim Holt, who raised concerns relating to unsafe practices at the healthcare establishment in which baby Peter Connelly, also referred to in mainstream media as “Baby P”, was taken two days before his death, described the introduction of the new helpline as an admission that internal processes had failed to work effectively. Dr. Holt has maintained that the external helpline would not be necessary if internal whistle-blowing processes, which remain within each NHS trust, were made to work. Dr. Holt added that the hounding of whistle-blowing staff must be stopped.
Duncan Lewis’ employment law solicitors can protect the rights of whistle-blowing staff.