Alex Allen Following the CQC investigation into West Suffolk NHS Hospital, Protect Acting Chief Executive, Liz Gardiner, said: ‘Those who raised concerns and voiced their alarm about the toxic culture at West Suffolk need to be thanked for doing so. Their whistleblowing triggered a CQC inspection and the regulator has now downgraded an outstanding hospital to one … Read more
Protect welcomes Baroness Kramer’s Office for the Whistleblower Bill which has been launched in the House of Lords (Tuesday January 28). Protect Acting Chief Executive, Liz Gardiner, said, “Now more than ever, we need to create an independent but central body that drives better policy and standards for whistleblowing. We want to see much greater … Read more
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has published the findings of an independent review into how it dealt with concerns raised in relation to the regulation of Whorlton Hall. Bosses at the (CQC) have been criticised in an independent report by David Noble into why it buried a critical report into Whorlton Hall hospital, a privately-run … Read more
A story in today’s Guardian has highlighted how bosses at West Suffolk NHS Hospital demanded fingerprint samples in a bid to identify a whistleblower. The report says that the hospital – which happens to be Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s local hospital – used ‘bullying and intimidatory’ tactics towards doctors to seek out the identity of … Read more
The National Guardian’s Office has published a report analysis of the data from Freedom to Speak Up Guardians to give a picture of what speaking up looks like in NHS trusts. The report, Speaking up in the NHS in England, reveals over the last year cases of speaking up to guardians have risen by 73 … Read more
We are looking for a new Chief Executive Office to lead Protect in supporting whistleblowers and promote whistleblowing. Our new CEO will ensure we encourage a culture of ‘Speak Up, Stop Harm’, that we provide the best possible support to innocent people at risk. Building on our solid reputation, the CEO will act as ambassador … Read more
Research around whistleblowing claims under whistle blowing law, the the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) being brought before the employment tribunals point to a worrying figure of a 3% success rate. Discrimination cases also fare as badly, with age discrimination cases being even lower at 1%. Overall, employment tribunal actions have a success rate … Read more
Today’s Queen’s Speech sees the UK Government commit through an Employment Bill to: ‘Protect and enhance workers’ rights as the UK leaves the EU, making Britain the best place in the world to work’. Details on what this will mean in practice are in short supply, and that includes what the future holds for reform … Read more
Head of Policy at Protect, Andrew Pepper-Parsons spoke at the National Guardian Office Pan Sector Conference on our recent work with regulators and professional bodies, the aim of which is to explore the challenges and opportunities these bodies have when receiving whistleblowing concerns, and in particular in handling and responding to the individual raising the … Read more
A review calling on a total overhaul of the UK audit profession, following a series of corporate scandals has been welcomed by Protect. Former London Stock Exchange Chairman, Sir Donald Brydon was tasked with reviewing the auditing sector, and his report, ‘Assess, Assure and Inform, Improving Audit Quality and Effectiveness, states: ‘Audit is not broken … Read more
