Whistleblowers face systemic poor behaviour from employers, warns union

Whistleblowers in the NHS are targeted by a systemic employer “playbook” designed to silence or remove them, the Hospital Consultants and Specialists Association (HCSA) has warned.The warning came on 2 April as the union launched a guidance document on the tactics used by some employers against doctors who speak up about safety.1The document is based on qualitative research conducted by the HCSA with hospital doctors who have blown the whistle on safety issues but then faced an employer backlash and even dismissal. It follows the publication of an HCSA survey last year, which found that doctors were worried that speaking up about patient safety would put their careers at risk.2By speaking to whistleblowers the union found that employers often followed a consistent “playbook” pattern of behaviour when dealing with such cases. For example, it said that doctors who raised concerns would often find themselves facing an internal investigation on maintaining…
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