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During the public inquiry into the criminal activities of nurse Lucy Letby, details were shared regarding the lack of action and support for whistleblowers in the UK’s National Health Service (NHS). The inquiry heard that almost one-third of NHS employees who had previously contacted whistleblowing charity, Protect, stated that their concerns had been ignored. This was particularly relevant as consultant paediatricians from the Countess of Chester hospital had stated their concerns about Letby deliberately harming babies on the neonatal unit.
While Letby was eventually redeployed to a non-clinical role in July 2016, the medical professionals who first raised concerns continued to speak out, as hospital executives planned to return Letby to the unit. The legal director of Protect, Sybille Raphael, described NHS employees’ perception of raising concerns as “like throwing a pebble in a dark hole”, as often these concerns are ignored and not investigated.
Furthermore, the inquiry heard that 62% of NHS workers that contacted Protect reported being punished for speaking out. Ms Raphael suggested that while this figure was not significantly different from other industries, there was a greater blame culture within the NHS. Protect is calling for a whistleblowing commissioner for England and Wales as there is currently no legal system in place to force employers to implement whistleblowing systems.
Lucy Letby was found guilty of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. The Thirlwall Inquiry is examining Letby’s crimes and the hospital’s response, with findings due to be published later this year. The inquiry is also hearing evidence of the impact of whistleblowers within the NHS and how these individuals can be better supported and protected
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