NHS whistleblowing helpline to be extended to social care

The whistleblowing helpline for NHS staff is to be extended to staff and employers in the social care sector from 1 January, the Department of Health has announced. Professionals from both health and social care will now be able to contact the helpline if they have concerns but are unsure about how to raise them or simply want advice on best practice. The service, which is currently funded by the government, will also become a freephone service provided by the Royal Mencap Society. A web-based service is also being developed. The announcement comes after concerns were raised about healthcare professionals being gagged by managers from reporting malpractice. To address these concerns, Andrew Lansley, the health secretary, announced plans in October to protect whistleblowers. He said he was committed to changing the NHS constitution so that doctors and nurses and other NHS employees who blow the whistle on wrongdoing in the health service will be protected in the future. The announcement, which suggests social care staff are now part this pledge, was welcomed by Cynthia Bower, chief executive of the Care Quality Commission. "Health and care professionals have a responsibility to raise concerns if they believe that patients or people who use services are being put at risk," she said. "The first course of action should be to raise these concerns within your organisation – but if you feel unable to, or if your voice is not being heard, it's important to know that there are other options open to you. That's why this helpline is so important." Mark Goldring, chief executive at Mencap, said that the new initiative will give NHS staff and social care workers the confidence to report abuse or raise concerns about patient and service user safety without fear of victimisation or personal reprisal. He said: "Through a free dedicated helpline we will provide confidential advice to individuals on how to report poor service, and we will advise organisations on how to develop best practice policy. "As an organisation that supports vulnerable people we take whistleblowing very seriously and understand the importance and the need for this essential service." The new whistleblowing helpline number – 08000 724 725 – will operate on weekdays between 8am and 6pm with an out-of-hours answering service will be available on weekends and on public holidays. This article is published by Guardian Professional. Join the healthcare network to receive regular emails and exclusive offers.