20.01.16
Local ‘freedom to speak up guardians’ network expected this year
The health service’s National Guardian, Dame Eileen Sills, has pledged to create a network of local ‘freedom to speak up guardians’ and start developing common standards for handling staff concerns within a year.
The chief nurse at Guys & St Thomas’ NHS FT was recently appointed to the role in order to act on the recommendations first highlighted in Sir Robert Francis’ review of whistleblowing across the NHS in 2014
Sills, appointed by the CQC, has now set her priorities for this year ahead of the publication of the results of a consultation into the functions of a National Guardian, which closed last month.
She commented: “As the National Guardian, I am determined that this role will provide independent national leadership to influence the creation of the right environment for all NHS staff to speak up safely.
“As we begin the process of setting up the office, I think it’s important that I set my working priorities - until the publication of the results of the consultation in March - and my expectations for the first year of the role of Guardian.”
As well as appointing local guardians, responsible for nurturing a culture of openness at trust level, Sills has promised to established how she can work effectively with NHS stakeholders whilst maintaining her independence from any organisations.
She will also start to make it clearer for staff working in NHS providers how they can speak up safely and will start “to influence good practice” through more effective communication across the health service.
The CQC vowed that the National Guardian will remain entirely independent and highly visible, being able to speak “freely and honestly” about where changes are needed across trusts and foundation trusts.
She will, however, work in partnership with the inspectorate, NHS England and NHS Improvement to reinforce good practice.