Whistleblowers need the support of a specialist Hse-style charter

In reference to your article on NHS and whistleblowing (Scotsman, February 15), it is intolerable that this issue is still being so poorly dealt with and that parties involved are passing the buck (government, local government, health boards etc).

While there are many organisations that monitor directly or indirectly the performance of health boards and hospitals it remains a murky issue. Should we not consider a neutral organisation that could do for health services what the Health and Safety Executive does for the construction industry or SEPA for the environment?

There would be statutory regulations and Codes of Practice - there are obviously many of these in place, but not as easily visible as those within the bodies mentioned.

The difference is that the HSE is an open book and has serious powers to enter any site or work place where it has strong evidence or reports of possible wrong doing.

Also it is mandatory to report to the HSE incidents that fall into certain categories of seriousness. And everyone from the labourer and cleaner-up to chief exec is responsible and can be held accountable.

Currently investigations are carried out internally, by people employed by the board or hospital concerned rather than an external body. These investigations are often inconclusive.

Another unsatisfactory outcome is the pat response that a thorough investigation has been carried out and measures put in place to ensure nothing like this will happen again – but with findings rarely published or glossed over. NIALL MCTEAGUE

Giffnock Glasgow

Am I alone in worrying about the sanity of our Health service ‘Administrators’.

Re-allocating finance to more targeted care problems must be admired but when there is already a shortage of beds, how can reducing the number of beds help that situation which in turn impacts on what they hope to achieve? JAMES WATSON Randolph Crescent, Dunbar, East Lothian