MPs tell NHS staff to report concerns about colleagues
July 27, 2011
Posted by:Ruth Hewitt
MPs on the health select committee have called for NHS staff to be warned that they must report concerns about their colleagues or face disciplinary proceedings themselves.
The BBC has reported on the health select committee’s recent investigations in to the role of regulators such as the General Medical Council (GMC) which regulates doctors, and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), in taking action against medical staff that fail to report concerns about their colleagues.
Apparently, the GMC is currently investigating doctors at Stafford Hospital who were not themselves negligent, but who failed to report concerns about their colleagues. The GMC has said that over 80 such investigations have been undertaken in the past 5 years. The GMC has acknowledged the need for doctors to act appropriately when there may be issues over poor patient care.
However, there are obvious difficulties for health professionals that report concerns about their colleagues. The charity Action Against Medical Accidents (AVMA) has highlighted concerns: “Many whistle-blowers are affected by threats and bullying. They lack independent help and support.”
The Department of Health has carried out a consultation to look in to strengthening protection and support for whistle-blowers in the NHS, although the results are yet to be published.
It remains to be seen whether action will be taken to actively encourage NHS staff to report their colleagues. It is clearly in patients, hospitals, and health professional’s best interests for issues surrounding poor patient care to be highlighted as soon as possible to prevent harm being caused to patients; which in turn may help to reduce the number of medical negligence claims.