An NHS adviser at the hospital where Lucy Letby murdered seven babies has warned that another major incident in the health service is “almost certain” if more protections are not given to whistleblowers. scandal.
Dr Ravi Jayaram is Consultant Paediatrician, Countess of Chester Hospital, Letby Killed the babies and attempted to murder six others, saying “the system is stacked against whistleblowers”.
The nurse was only able to commit her crime after becoming concerned. Hospital whistleblower ignored.it also appears there managers Police involved for 11 months After questioning.
In an interview with Sky News, Dr Jayaram backed reforms to whistleblowing legislation as part of a private member’s bill, which will have its second reading in the House of Commons on Friday.
It calls for the establishment of an independent “whistleblower’s office” which would provide greater protection for all members of the public.
“If things stay the same, then the behavior will stay the same,” Dr. Jayaram said. “Sometimes people are afraid to raise concerns for fear of physical harm and retaliation.”
He described a pervasive “culture of cover-up” that had “significant implications” not just for health care and patient safety, but for “all institutions.”
“If action is not taken now we are almost certain to have another big NHS scandal… another scandal like Shrewsbury and Telford, like the Post Office.”
Dr Ravi Jayaram calls for better protection of whistleblowers
Whistleblowing in the UK is currently protected by the Public Interest Disclosure Act (PIDA), which was introduced 25 years ago.
It allows whistleblowers to seek compensation through the Employment Tribunal if they have been harmed as a result of raising concerns.
However, it has been criticized as being costly and not addressing or forcing an investigation into the reasons behind whistleblowing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more convenient video player
Letby: Why are warnings ignored?
Georgina Halford-Hall, director of Whistleblowers UK, a non-profit organization that supports whistleblowers, said existing legislation “turns serious concerns, which may be related to the death of a baby or large-scale fraud, into a simple matter between employers and workers” Disputes”.
“These charges got lost somewhere in the system.”
“Current legislation encourages wrongdoing because no one is held accountable,” she continued, adding that if the law had been changed years ago post office scandal Probably never happened.
“We know there are whistleblowers at the post office. We know there are whistleblowers in all the hospitals, but no one listens to them.”
read more:
New guidance will “support doctors’ voice”
How police caught Lucy Lebby
Georgina Halford-Hall says ‘no one is listening’ to some whistleblowers
“I can’t see a way out”
Peter Duffy, who worked as a consultant urologist at Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, expressed concern about widespread harm within the department.
As a result, he quit his job and took early retirement from medicine.
“You’re just doing your job,” he said, “and by the time you realize you’re a whistleblower, it’s too late.”
He described wanting to end his life because of the toll it took on him personally and professionally: “I couldn’t see a way out.”
Peter Duffy had suicidal thoughts after raising concerns
Morecambe Bay University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Aaron Cummins said an independent inquiry in 2019 looked into all concerns raised about the trust’s urology services.
He said: “We encourage colleagues working at the trust to speak up if they have concerns about patient safety or the welfare of colleagues and strive to create an environment where raising concerns is an important part of our job and is prioritized and respected.” Core Business.
“We acknowledge that the trust’s governance in the past has not been good enough and issues raised have not always been addressed.
“There is more work to do and our priority now is to make further progress and ensure all improvements are robust and sustainable.”
Mr Duffy also backed new legislation proposing a whistleblower office, which would have powers to force action and refer criminal offenses for investigation.
If it passes parliament, it would also mean the government must first fund central agencies.
Eventually, more money will come from fines levied on organizations.
Follow Sky News for all the latest news from the UK and around the world
Mary Robinson, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Whistleblowing Group (APPG), believes “saving money” will be saved in the long term by “ending the culture of cover-up”.
“There is a cost to this cover-up,” she said. “There is a cost to paying people when they are unfairly fired, and it’s a cost to human lives.”
“This will prevent further cases because it will change the culture of the organization and we need to achieve that culture change.”
The government’s review of the UK’s existing whistleblowing legislation was due to be published in autumn 2023, but has been postponed.
No reason has been given for the delay, but a spokesman for the Department of Commerce and Trade said the report would be published “later this year”.
Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can contact Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the United States, call your local Samaritans chapter or 1 (800) 273-TALK
Follow us on Google news ,Twitter , and Join Whatsapp Group of thelocalreport.in
