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The Report

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Original insights into major news stories and topical investigations

The current affairs series combining original insights into major news stories with topical investigations

The Report: NHS Whistleblowers

NHS Whistleblowers

07/07/2011

BBC Radio 4 - The Report, NHS Whistleblowers

The Report investigates why some NHS whistleblowers end up suspended from their jobs.

Simon Cox asks why some NHS whistleblowers end up suspended from their jobs after voicing concerns about patient safety. Why does the system set up to protect them not work?

Patient safety has become a growing concern for the NHS. And significant numbers of clinicians are aware of failings in care. Yet when they raise concerns, some find themselves facing allegations themselves and can find themselves suspended from their jobs. They may end up at home on full pay for years at considerable cost to the taxpayer. In some cases clinicians have highlighted serious concerns which, had they been listened to, might have averted subsequent tragedies. In The Report today Simon Cox hears the stories of whistleblowers in the NHS. He asks why their bosses sometimes ignore their concerns and investigates the use of gagging orders and other methods aimed at stopping whistleblowing clinicians from telling their stories. 
Producer: Rosamund Jones.

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