Blowing the whistle for patients and staff
Former police officer Albert Donald, NHS Highland Whistleblowing Champion, offers some thoughts on his role in the wake of the bullying scandal within the organisation uncovered by the 2019 Sturrock Report.
On April 1 this year, the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer service, covering the whole of NHS Scotland, went live to let people know they can raise issues and that they will be listened to.
This unified management, applied to all health boards across the country, is the latest step taken by the NHS to improve employee culture which is, of course, directly linked to patient care.
It is vital everyone involved with NHS Scotland feels confident to speak up if there are concerns that public interests are not being best served, for example, when it comes to patient safety.
The new standards apply to anyone involved in an NHS service including employees, volunteers, contractors, students and partners.
The national programme has replaced local whistleblowing policies meaning consistent practices and standards are applied across every health board.
This includes Argyll and Bute, which is served by NHS Highland.
To ensure the public’s best interest remains a top priority reports will go to the board every quarter with a breakdown of concerns.
This means any emerging trends or common themes are identified at an early stage, concerns are raised, action is taken to rectify the situation and what is learned is acknowledged, shared and, where required, put into practice.
As part of the implementation of the national standards, NHS Highland has unveiled its ‘Speak Up, Listen Up’ campaign to raise colleague awareness of whistleblowing and other ways of raising concerns throughout the Highlands and across Argyll and Bute.
It is about encouraging people who work for or with NHS Highland in service delivery to share their concerns, ensuring they are listened to, and that any issues raised are dealt with effectively.
This campaign is also part of the ongoing efforts by NHS Highland to address cultural issues around bullying and harassment that were highlighted more than two years ago in an independent review by John Sturrock QC.
Since then NHS Highland has been working with colleagues, former staff, whistle-blowers, the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to improve matters for staff and members of the public.
I am proud to have taken on the independent and impartial role of whistleblowing champion for NHS Highland and NHS Grampian.
Following my 38 years as a police officer in the northeast of Scotland, I became the independent chairman of three different adult protection committees.
In February 2020, I was appointed to the board of NHS Highland and NHS Grampian as a non-executive director. The whistleblowing champion role is a new board position designed to ensure national standards are being followed by the organisation.
Everyone involved with NHS Scotland must recognise the importance of whistleblowing for patient care.
I am committed to playing my part in this process and I urge all those working for NHS Highland in Argyll and Bute to do the same.