Speaking Up and blowing whistles

If we look at the bruising process that are being experienced by Whistleblowers – however you define it, up and down the country, this doesn’t seem right. If we return to Helené Donnelly’s evidence about her experience

“at Mid Staffs was that nobody wanted to hear because it was just - it was too difficult, it was too difficult to do, it was too difficult to look into.”

Not just too difficult for the institution, but even harder for the people – who are simply trying to do the right thing. There are numerous examples of people being brave, and being punished.

There are exposes in the national press, there is evidence at public enquiries, there is even a playbook alleging how Employers deploy a series of actions against clinicians when they speak up. It is denied, but the former Chief Executive at the Countess of Chester Hospital is alleged to have tried to have mentioned "referrals to the GMC" and an "action plan to manage out" the staff raising the concerns.

I and countless others out there, want to be part of the solution. Even if the legislation is confusing, and even if right now – it isn’t doing the job properly.

Nudge theory is about making it easy to do the right thing. And at the moment, I don’t think anyone would agree that this is the case. But it feels like maybe, just maybe, this is the tipping point for making this change happen.

Here’s hoping.