📖This month: celebrating 30 years of Protect, Zelda Perkins joins us on our podcast, media highlights, and more💁
No images? Click here
August Newsletter
In the aftermath of the horrific murders of babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital in England, attention is rightly focused on whistleblowing. Unlike the “wilful blindness” of staff criticised in the Paterson inquiry, here consultants had tried repeatedly to raise concerns, but the trust response was slow and inadequate. The forthcoming inquiry should consider if deaths could have been avoided if concerns had been acted on sooner. The events should also be a wake up call to look again at whistleblowing in the NHS, particularly how leaders and managers are held to account. Our statement is here.
Andrew Pepper-Parsons, Protect's Director of Policy, and I were invited onto Sky News and TalkTV to discuss both the role of whistleblowers and the GMC’s new Good Medical Practice guidance. For the first time, doctors in leadership and management roles will be required to “take active steps to create an environment in which people can talk about errors and concerns safely”. This should also apply to all NHS leaders and managers, and sanctions taken against those who suppress whistleblowing concerns or treat whistleblowers badly – as recommended by the Kark Review.
In lighter news, our landmark Future of Whistleblowing conference is just over a month away! In-person tickets are sold out but virtual attendance is open for registration.
The advice on our website is being regularly updated and enriched. Feedback from our readers includes: "very informative and provides good advice on raising a claim and how employers should behave" and "superb, easy to read and apply website. The examples and checklists given are clear and easy to follow”. This month, we added a series of highly practical FAQs that complement our advice in the financial sector webpage.
Finally, this month sees our first training for Non-Executive Directors, trustees, governors on their whistleblowing responsibilities. We’re delighted to welcome Louis Cooper, CEO of the Non-Executive Directors’ Association as a guest speaker at the masterclass.
The Future of Whistleblowing
Online attendance
Missed out on attending in person? No worries! Registration for virtual attendance is now open.
Zelda Perkins podcast
Legal Advisor, Emma Darlow Stearn, sat down with Zelda Perkins this month to discuss Weinstein, whistleblowing and NDAs.
August Highlights
The BMA has released guidance on whistleblowing and legislative reforms, highlighting the services Protect offers.
The Independent reached out to Andrew Pepper Parsons, Director of Policy, to comment on the Lucy Letby case.
Policy Director, Andrew Pepper-Parsons shares expertise and findings from Blowing The Whistle in Schools, guide by Protect, with Education Today Magazine.
