Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to create an independent complaints system for NHS staff to raise concerns about patient care and potential malpractice.

There are already several routes, both within National Health Service organisations and externally, for NHS staff to raise concerns about anything that gets in the way of delivering safe and high-quality care. NHS England’s national freedom to speak up policy, which all organisations delivering NHS care should adopt by January 2024, sets out the range of internal routes open to staff, including their Local Freedom To Speak Up Guardian, who can support staff to speak up if they feel unable to do so via other routes.

For staff who do not wish to raise a concern within their organisation, there are also several external routes available, including the Care Quality Commission and, if appropriate, the relevant professional body. In addition, we have put in place a Speak Up Direct helpline and website for NHS and social care staff. The service provides advice for staff who want to speak up about something that concerns them in their organisation.