NHS Whistleblowing. The Debate in Parliament

We should make a note that Andrew Mitchell of the Conservatives did not raise the issue of Whistleblowing in Parliament. He is of course my MP. The person who thankfully did is Richard Taylor of Wyre Forrest.

Ben Bradshaw is often extremely amusing, conveniently brushing away from Ward 87 and pretending it doesn't exist. That OK Ben, we know how embarrassing it is for you to have to admit your Department did nothing when concerns were raised in the year 1999.

The Debate can be accessed here.

"Dr. David Colin-Thomé, the Government's GP tsar, wrote in the introduction to his review of the lessons learned in mid-Staffordshire:

"What has particularly shocked and disappointed me is that no NHS organisations, staff or representatives of the public reported any serious concerns about emergency services in the hospital. Yet patient complaints and patient surveys all pointed to poor care."

Ben Bradshaw - then admits that Public Concern at Work works hand in hand with the Department of Health. As everyone will know there have been phenomenal complaints about the ineffectiveness of PCAW.

"We have also commissioned a charity that specialises in the issue called Public Concern at Work. It provides an independent helpline that is staffed by lawyers with expertise in whistleblowing. That is available to all NHS staff and calls are treated in the utmost confidence"

Ben then goes onto say

"Since the report was published, there have been suggestions that some staff did raise concerns but were not listened to. I urge anyone who has had experience of that or has had it reported to them to bring evidence of such examples forward."

Then

"I hope that I have made it absolutely clear to the hon. Gentleman, both in my general remarks and in what I had to say about the Margaret Haywood and Stafford hospital cases, that the Government fully support whistleblowing. We have provided unprecedented legal protection for those who whistleblow and have emphasized those rights in the new NHS constitution. We will not tolerate management that bullies or discourages whistleblowers. Listening to and acting on the concerns of staff are vital ways to drive up standards and help ensure against poor or unacceptable quality care"

Ben Bradshaw still continues to ignore Ward 87 despite it being brought to his attention a number of times. We wonder why. Perhaps it is another Bradshaw Brain bubble.