NHS Whistleblowers Document Published
For IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NHS Reform Group [ http://www.nhsreformgroup.com]
JRSM Publishes Leading Whistleblowing Paper
Whistleblowing and patient safety: the patient's or the profession's interests at stake?
Authors - Professor Steve Bolsin, Dr Rita Pal, Dr Peter Wilmshurst, Dr Milton Pena.
Stephen Dorrell Chairman of the Health Select Committee recently suggested that there may be an Inquiry into Whistleblowing. The authors of the enclosed paper recommended this as one of of an array of useful steps that should be taken by the United Kingdom with a view to improving patient safety. NHS Reform has been working closely with whistleblowers as Dr Pal has regularly consulted us during the development of the enclosed paper.
The authors state "Our recommendations are firstly that the profession, through the GMC or BMA Council, should commission a Consultation Group on Reporting Poor Care. This Group will examine the consequences to all parties from incidents of reported poor care. Second, the Government should consider establishing a Health Select Committee Review of Whistleblowing that would make impartial recommendations to Government and the profession. Third, the Government should consider setting up and resourcing a National Whistleblowing Centre similar to that in the US. We believe that only by open public scrutiny will constructive change be cemented into exemplary clinical practice"
The paper provides an evidence based insight into the problems within the system. It also offers a potential way forward. This is unlike any other research paper on this subject.
Professor Steve Bolsin asks this final question
"The question that individual medical professionals must answer is 'Which doctor would you prefer for your relatives or yourself? A doctor that is prepared to report poor care to improve your, or your relatives outcome, or one that is not prepared to do so regardless of the consequences to your relative or yourself?" When the profession can truthfully answer that question they will be able to put in place the necessary structures for change. The people who deserve this most are our longsuffering patients"
We continue to offer practical support and recommendations to all whistleblowers who contact us. We hope that the above paper is a step forward to a better future for better patient care. We welcome the government's positive response towards whistleblowing. Professor Bolsin can be contacted for further advice on UK policy.
NHS Reform would like to thank Dr Kamran Abassi, Editor of the JRSM for having the vision to boldly go where no editor has dared - he published this controversial paper in the interest of patient safety. Kamran's commitment to patient safety is self evident.
Dr Pal commented " Kamran has been fantastic. We came up with a fledgling idea some years ago and he was amazingly supportive. He has been the only editor in the world of medical journalism to support whistleblowers in this manner. He is a credit to the JRSM and Royal Society of Medicine. We would like to thank Dr Abassi and the JRSM editorial team for their hard work and determination that has resulted in the final product. As the organiser of the paper, I certainly know what a hard glacier we all had to climb. Finally, all the authors especially Professor Bolsin worked tirelessly because we all believe that patient safety is paramount"
Related Links
1. Independent Article Please click here - Thanks to Nina for the feature
2. JRSM Link to Whistleblowing and Patient Safety Click here to read
3. Editorial Board of the JRSM http://jrsm.rsmjournals.com/misc/edboard.dtl
4. Royal Society of Medicine http://www.rsm.ac.uk/
5. The North Staffordshire Whistleblower http://www.nhsexposed.com
6. Download JRSM paper online http://www.mediafire.com/?vb69kbj0a975uuu if there are problems with the attachment.
Contacts
1. NHS Reform Group - Mr Miguel Cubells 07833 686 555
2. Professor Stephen Bolsin STEVEB@BarwonHealth.org.au
3. Other authors can be contacted via us
The paper is dedicated to all the patients who have died needlessly within a failing
Jeremy Laurance of the Independent comments
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