Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to protect whistleblowers in the NHS.

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has been clear that the Government will not tolerate National Health Service managers who silence whistleblowers. The Government recognises the importance of strong and accountable leadership in supporting whistleblowers and fostering a positive, compassionate culture within the NHS. That is why we have committed to introducing professional standards for and regulating NHS managers. We are currently considering the most appropriate and effective means of delivering this.

The Employment Rights Act 1996, as amended by the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998, gives legal protection to those who speak up in the public interest. The legislation is intended to build openness and trust in workplaces by ensuring that workers who hold their employers to account are treated fairly. In 2018, enhanced legal protections were introduced that made it unlawful for NHS employers to discriminate against job applicants on the grounds that they have made a protected disclosure in the past. This complements the longstanding legal provisions within the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.

There is a network of more than 1,200 local Freedom to Speak Up Guardians throughout healthcare in England, whose role is to help and support staff who want to speak up about their concerns. NHS England has also published a national Freedom to Speak Up policy, which provides the minimum standard for local Freedom to Speak Up policies across the NHS, which NHS organisations are required to adopt. Workers who wish to speak up can also receive advice and support from Speak Up Direct.