Dave Thompson MSP

Responding to a question from Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing Alex Neil revealed that Dr Kim Holt, a founding member of Patients First had been consulted in preparing a tender document for the national alert line.

Commenting on this, Dave said: “I was pleased to facilitate the meeting between the Cabinet Secretary and Dr Holt, and I am glad that the meeting was helpful in the formulation of the tender document.

“It is essential that all NHS staff feel able to report instances of bullying, and I am confident that the new alert line will ensure that this is the case.

Dave has heard concerns from constituents concerning the reporting of bullying in the NHS, and following discussions with Dr Holt and Patients First he arranged the meeting with the cabinet Secretary in December last year.

The contract for the national confidential alert line has been awarded to Public Concern at Work, and the Freephone service is scheduled to launch on the 2nd April this year.

Adding to this, Dave said:

“I welcome the Cabinet Secretary’s comments, and I am glad that Patients First have been consulted in the development of the national alert line.

“It is vital that there is confidence in public services, especially key sectors such as healthcare. The vast majority of public sector staff are dedicated workers who strive for the highest of standards, and the new alert line will mean that those who want to see high standards maintained will be able to report their concerns without fear on intimidation or bullying.

Note:

Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Government what further measures it will take to combat bullying in the national health service. (S4O-01916)

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil): Culture, values and behaviours will be a fundamental cornerstone of the 2020 workforce vision, which we aim to launch at the NHS event in June. That will present a further opportunity to restate our commitment to providing a working environment in the NHS that is free from bullying and harassment.

Jim Eadie: Is the cabinet secretary aware that the national confidential alert line that is soon to be launched, which is independent of the NHS, is being keenly awaited by NHS staff and trade unions, as it will provide an additional level of protection in the workplace, and that NHS staff who have any concerns over standards of care, patient safety or the treatment of staff, including bullying, will be able to make a complaint over the phone to the whistleblowers helpline, secure and safe in the knowledge that their complaint will be taken seriously, fully investigated and acted upon?

Alex Neil: I am aware that the national confidential alert line is keenly awaited. The contract to provide it has been awarded to Public Concern at Work, and I am pleased to say that we are making excellent progress in preparing for the launch of the freephone service on 2 April this year. I am confident that the service will support and enhance existing procedures by providing an additional level of support for staff who wish to raise concerns about practices in NHS Scotland.

Dave Thompson (Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch) (SNP): The cabinet secretary will know that I have constituents who are members of Patients First, which was established in England and Wales and is now developing in Scotland. In the main, they are NHS staff with an interest in whistleblowing and other issues in the NHS. What could the cabinet secretary do to support Patients First and those involved in it as the organisation develops?

Alex Neil: In preparing the tender document for the alert line, I consulted Dr Kim Holt, a founding member of Patients First, to get her input and feedback on her experiences in London, particularly with Great Ormond Street hospital, to ensure that we were covering all the right angles for the tender specification. I received positive and helpful input from Dr Holt, and I will continue to talk to Patients First about the development of a policy to ensure robust implementation of our intention to eliminate bullying and harassment in the NHS in Scotland.