BULLYING, victimisation and intimidation – these are just some experiences of health service staff as a result of whistleblowing, a report has found.
The body responsible for inspecting healthcare services in Northern Ireland, the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), has made a series of recommendations to help encourage workers to speak out.
In a survey of more than 3,000 staff from hospitals, care homes and social service providers, 44 per cent of those who had raised workplace concerns to senior management said they had suffered as a result.
Staff reported occasions when they had been disciplined by bosses and isolated and even bullied by colleagues.
More than half of staff said that the issue raised had not been dealt with appropriately, and many said they would not raise concerns for fear of reprisals.
Only 52 per cent of respondents said they would feel confident in reporting an issue to a senior management member.
The RQIA made 11 recommendations to healthcare services, including setting up a new confidential helpline for whistleblowers and providing training to staff and management.
It was also advised that a new policy model for dealing with concerns in health and social care bodies be implemented.
Cathy James, chief executive of Public Concern at Work, an independent whistleblowing advice service who helped compile the report, said change is needed.
"While the process uncovered some worrying trends in the way in which whistleblowing is perceived and dealt with in Northern Ireland, this report is bound to produce real change," she said.
"For too long the law has been seen as the answer to providing better whistleblowing cultures in the UK, yet the real responsibility lies with employers and regulators.
"If properly implemented this review will provide much needed help and assistance for workers and employers alike."
A spokesperson for RQIA said often there is a negative view of whistleblowing and this needs to be remedied.
"While many staff raise concerns, a significant minority do not, with some feeling that nothing will be done, and fear reprisal," they said.
"Employers must take steps to encourage workers to raise concerns about wrongdoing in their organisations.
"Responding to whistleblowing in a timely manner is key to supporting improvement in the quality of health and social care services, and providing assurance of patient safety.
"It is not acceptable for organisations to assume a low level of raising concerns is positive; they must each 'test the silence' to gain assurance that the process of raising concerns is working well in their organisation."
