Today (16 November 2023), the Annual Report of the National Guardian for the NHS was laid before Parliament, highlighting the work of Freedom to Speak Up guardians and the National Guardian’s Office. The report also shares learning which indicates that more work is needed for speaking up to be described as business as usual in the healthcare sector in England.
This was a commitment called for by the Secretary of State in his response to the events at Gosport War Memorial Hospital. In her foreword to the report, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield MP, said:
“The events surrounding the terrible crimes of Lucy Letby are an important reminder of how vital it is for organisations to have a culture in which workers feel safe to speak up about anything that gets in the way of delivering safe and high-quality care. Managers and senior leaders must be welcoming of speaking up and be ready to listen and act on what they hear.”
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, added:
“This year we have had stark reminders of why all efforts to improve the Speak Up culture in health, including the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian route, are so essential for patient safety. It is chilling to think of the harm that might have been prevented and lives which might have been saved if colleagues felt able to raise concerns, or had been listened to and appropriate action taken swiftly when they did. This report shares some of our learning. Freedom to Speak Up is more than an ‘initiative’, it is a social movement.”
The report features case studies from across England, illustrating the difference Freedom to Speak Up guardians are making and examples of how healthcare workers are being supported to speak up for patient safety and worker wellbeing. Over 25,000 cases were raised with Freedom to Speak Up guardians last year, a 25% increase on the record level set during the pandemic. Although there has been a drop in the percentage of cases indicating detriment (to 3.9%), given the rise in numbers, this equates to 1,000 cases where people felt they were experiencing disadvantageous or demeaning treatment as a result of speaking up.
The National Guardian’s Office also works to share learning and good practice in order to effect culture change in the healthcare sector, including through Speak Up Reviews. This year, the Office has worked with NHS England to publish the new and updated Freedom to Speak Up policy for the NHS and guidance for leaders of organisations providing NHS services. All NHS trusts and foundation trust boards have been asked to update their local policy to reflect the new national template by the end of January 2024.
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark concluded: “If we can get the culture right, benefits will follow, including improving patient safety, innovation for improvement, retaining workers and making the NHS a great place to work.”
Today (16 November 2023), the Annual Report of the National Guardian for the NHS was laid before Parliament, highlighting the work of Freedom to Speak Up guardians and the National Guardian’s Office. The report indicates that more work is needed for speaking up to be described as business as usual in the healthcare sector in England.
The report was a commitment called for by the Secretary of State in his response to the events at Gosport War Memorial Hospital. In her foreword to the report, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Mental Health and Women’s Health Strategy, Maria Caulfield MP, said:
“The events surrounding the terrible crimes of Lucy Letby are an important reminder of how vital it is for organisations to have a culture in which workers feel safe to speak up about anything that gets in the way of delivering safe and high-quality care. Managers and senior leaders must be welcoming of speaking up and be ready to listen and act on what they hear.”
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, commented:
“This year we have had stark reminders of why all efforts to improve the Speak Up culture in health, including the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian route, are so essential for patient safety. It is chilling to think of the harm that might have been prevented and lives which might have been saved if colleagues felt able to raise concerns, or had been listened to and appropriate action taken swiftly when they did. This report shares some of our learning. Freedom to Speak Up is more than an ‘initiative’, it is a social movement.”
The report features case studies from across England, illustrating the difference Freedom to Speak Up guardians are making and examples of how healthcare workers are being supported to speak up for patient safety and worker wellbeing. Over 25,000 cases were raised with Freedom to Speak Up guardians
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.