Whistle-blowing in health care - have you/would you?

[WhistlingWilly]

Long time user, have NC.

Anyone who works in healthcare (or any other field actually), have you ever whistle-blown on a colleague? I'm considering doing it about someone I work with. Narcissist, bully, dangerously incompetent, falsifies documentation regularly the list goes on... But I'm scared for my job and my progression. Is it worth it?

You should be able to do it anonymously ?
Or go to your safeguarding lead at the LA

If you are in a hospital - you'll be protected, but in a care home, not so much

I whistle blew in education - I was eventually drummed out - absolutely no whistle blowing policy, unlike the NHS or local government, and zero protection - especially I have found if you aren't a professional, but merely admin, clerical etc

Have checked the policy and I'm supposed to be protected, its just nerve-wracking!

I'm pretty sure this happened to them in a previous role too, and I know someone else has recently raised concerns (different but similar to mine).

Iask, that's shit, I'm sorry hopefully having a policy will protect me a bit. I feel I need to do it. I'm worried for the impact it'll potentially have on our patients and other colleagues.

I got bullied out after whistleblowing for very good reasons.
Might go better for you if others can back you up.
Think very carefully before you do anything, especially if reporting a manager. Best of luck.

I left the nhs partly/mainly due to a bullying head of service....so very senior. I did email the Caldecott guardian anonymously but never heard back.

Then there was a bit more chuntering from a number of people still there and they banded together. They asked me to do another statement which I did. So a number of people whistle blew together. I had my doubts that anything would be done. There was a formal investigation and this person was asked to leave.

I do think there's strength in numbers but you can also do it anonymously.

Hmmm, this is scary. They're are definitely several people who would back me up. In fact, everyone I work with apart from one person. The person who previously reported doesn't work with us but is a manager from elsewhere who noticed some scary stuff and came to investigate.

I think I might do it.... Wish me luck

Can you go via your union?

Do a collective grievance ?

Good luck. Definitely do it. Someone in my field was investigated and dismissed due to being dangerously incompetent. The investigation was ongoing before I started working there. Some of my colleagues has to testify against the person and nothing ever came back on them. If you have lots of evidence and people who will testify then absolutely. I would feel I have a duty to patients and their safety to report it if I knew someone like this.

Yes I did it once, was doing some work in a nursing home as a qualified nurse while I was doing my degree.
The manager was abusing staff and patients. Safeguarding people were supposed to keep my identity a secret but accidentally blurted my name out, I got fired.
She is still working there.

Good luck op
More people need to be brave
Madcatlady...that sucks. Totally shocking

Oh yes and another time in the NHS. A male colleague was dangerously incompetent and had made mistakes causing a couple of patients to have their legs amputated. We are podiatrists.
My concerns were ignored.
I compiled a very detailed catalogue of things he had done over 6 months and of all his poor record keeping. I ONLY did it because I was so worried for the patients.
The list was duly taken by my manager and we were both interviewed, the enior manager decided this was a "personality clash" and he was moved to another department where he continues to harm patients to this day.
I have left there now but still chat to all the old staff, they say nothing has changed, he is srill massively incompetent, still harms patients, they all hate him.
I ask why they all do nothing. they said they don't want to get involved.

Bullied out after whistleblowing about racism and bullying in the NHS.

I'd do it again though, but after joining a union and keeping meticulous records.

That's how I feel. Like I need to safeguard people. I actually think if I do get fired over it then so be it. It would be worth it

Totally agree with the responsibility to safeguard. It's awful witnessing wrongdoing. If you report there is the very real possibility your life will become hell, but if you don't report you are allowing bad things to happen.
And there is always the possibility that your life will be made hell and the wrongdoer will be able to carry on regardless.
Good luck. It takes a hell of a lot of courage to do this.

Yeah, it's not even just the patients, there are colleagues who are affected by the documentation thing. For example, if this person fakes tests which have been done, then drs will prescribe (or not prescribe) things based on lies/guesses, which at best isn't great, at worst could be life changing/ending for the patient. How would the Dr feel then? Bloody awful.

I'd be very careful about whistleblowing unless you can do it completely anonymously. I also work in the public sector and have seen a number of friends and colleagues broken by their attempts to do the right thing, despite written policies and procedures which claim to protect the whistleblower. Organisations close rank, nothing changes, those against whom claims are made are often at best moved sideways, whereas breakdowns amongst whistleblowers seem to be quite common.

I think if said person is doing these type things already then they have no moral compass in their practice.

Good advice from previous posters.

Absolute proof before allegations and I'm glad to hear you have a good support network.

I reported someone in healthcare years ago for being a racist bully to other people and they had been too scared to raise it etc I ended up worse off in treatment by bully for reporting it but was able to hold my own.

They were suspended but allowed back after a time. The healthcare workers subjected to the treatment ultimately left. Funny how it's worked out to support the bully sometimes.

Not a nice position for you to be in.

I've loads of undisputible evidence, many examples and more coming in every day. My colleagues are now keeping the evidence to show me which I can then pass on. I don't take it lying down. There have also been several reports to hr about bullying and racism amongst other things so hopefully this will be a final straw. One Dr refused to work with the person.

*indisputable

I did and ended up having to take early retirement. Big boss was an awful bully and a danger to patients (mistakes that he'd blame on others). I officially told my line manager at every single one-to-one and she wrote it down, but just laughed. In the end I took my pension and went to work elsewhere part time. He made me mentally ill over the two years I had to work with him. People say they will back you up, but the buggers disappear into the woodwork when push comes to shove. NHS.

Well, all the evidence sounds really good and reassuring.
Sounds like the right thing to do (but that was never in question - people don't do this for no reason) and the more you tell us, the safer it sounds for you.
I wish you success in your mission!

Oh god. Maybe I'll chicken out. Nowhere near retirement age! In fact, I'm very much in the road to promotion!

Ps. I won't chicken out. I'll let you know when I've compiled things and have done it.