14.03.13
Whistleblowing will always be necessary
The Government has banned gagging clauses for NHS staff – a move which could significantly affect the number of people who speak up about potentially critical health and safety issues.
Health secretary Jeremy Hunt pointed out that a culture where whistleblowing is necessary indicates that “obviously something has gone wrong”. Yet there will never be a situation where whistleblowing is not necessary.
The NHS may, and must, improve its position on hearing criticism and recognise failings in its system instead of sweeping them under the rug. But to believe that this will one day be superseded by perfect care is to expect too much.
Whistleblowing should be seen as a positive thing. The NHS needs to be held to account, and seeking to remove this check would be incredibly risky, regardless of how open and honest staff are trained to be.
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