Whistleblower report uncovers “climate of fear” among NHS workers

NHS staff who raise the alarm on inadequate or dangerous practices are being ignored or even intimidated, according to an independent report.

Full findings of the Freedom to Speak Up Review, chaired by Sir Robert Francis QC, are due to be released later today.

In an interview with the BBC, Sir Robert said a “significant proportion” of workers were afraid of speaking out for fear of being bullied – or because nothing would be done.
His review, which was commissioned by the government last year, received more than 600 stories direct from frontline staff and 19,000 responses to an online survey.   

On BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Robert underlined the pressure staff come under when they notice questionable practices.

He said: “Some 30% of people who had raised a concern said they felt unsafe after after they had done so. Eighteen per cent of staff said they didn’t trust the system so they wouldn’t speak out, 15% told us they feared being victimised if they did so.”

“All that climate of fear is brought about by the experiences of what may be a very few people .... I’ve spoken to people who have not only lost their jobs, their livelihood, they’ve not been able to find other jobs to do. And I’m afraid in some cases have felt suicidal and become ill as a result,” he added.

Sir Robert was asked to launch the inquiry by health secretary, Jeremy Hunt, after leading two independent inquiries into failures at Mid Staffordshire NHS foundation trust between 2005 and 2009.

Mr Hunt is due to make an oral statement on the Freedom to Speak Up Review at 12.30pm today (11th February).