Support for doctors' duty to speak up

Published on Saturday 27 June 2009 22:03

THE British Medical Association has warned hospital trusts against victimising NHS whistleblowers as it issued new guidance.

The doctors' professional association advised medics to err on the side of raising worries about malpractice or failures in the system, rather than allowing the situation to reach a point where patient safety was threatened.

A spokesman said the guidance pointed out that employees victimised after raising their concerns could go to tribunal, and employers could be heavily fined.

It was published ahead of the BMA's annual representative meeting next week. A motion to be debated tomorrow warns that failures in Staffordshire could happen elsewhere. A report from the Healthcare Commission in March condemned "appalling" and "shocking" standards of care at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period.

A BMA survey found 74 per cent of hospital doctors have had concerns about patient safety, malpractice or bullying. Seven in ten had raised the issues at their trust, but their experiences had often been negative, for example because their trust had indicated that speaking up could negatively affect their employment.

BMA junior doctors' committee vice-chairman Dr Tom Dolphin said: "No-one should be victimised for raising a concern. Doctors have both a right and a duty to speak out."

BMA consultants' committee chairman Dr Jonathan Fielden said:

"We need an open culture that condemns bullying and applauds those going that extra step to improve care."