Health workers are afraid of speaking out about the NHS crisis for fear of repercussions, according to dozens of people who have contacted Sky News.
At the start of the year, we set up an email address for people to write in with their stories from the front line of the NHS.
Hundreds of people responded. But many of them said the same thing.
“The staff can see the problems in the NHS and some of them are such easy wins yet the moment anyone suggests anything or heaven forbid raises a complaint then their career is finished. So we all keep quiet,” wrote one paramedic.
“Please keep me anonymous as I’m scared of repercussions – nurses are always under fear of speaking out,” said a nurse in the North West of England.
Other organisations paint a similar picture.
Protect, a whisteblowing charity, analysed calls to their helpline in the last year and told us that of 92 NHS workers who made contact, 77% reported retaliation or detrimental treatment as a result of speaking up.
A third (33%) said they were either dismissed or felt they had to resign after raising concerns.
The culture of silence within the NHS has long been recognised as a problem.
If you are an NHS worker and would like to share your experiences with us anonymously, please email [email protected]
In 2014, the government commissioned Robert Francis KC to write an independent report on ways to tackle it.
His 2015 review Freedom to Speak Up recommended the creation of a network of – Freedom to Speak Up Guardians – across the NHS, to encourage a culture of openness and reporting.
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, the National Guardian for NHS England, told us: “I think at the moment, there’s lots of good work being done in some organisations to improve the speak up culture.
“But sadly, in some, there is still an absolute fear of repercussions. It’s a real issue that we have to get right in the NHS.”
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NHS staff survey data shows that staff confidence in the ability to raise concerns is actually falling.
Last year’s survey suggested just 62% of NHS staff felt safe to speak up about their concerns, down from 65% in 2020, when the question was first asked.
In 2013, when a slightly different but similar question was asked, the number was 72%.
‘It’s a version of 1984’
Speaking to us on condition of anonymity, one paramedic described the culture as Orwellian.
“It used to be we could say what we wanted in our crew room. That was a safe space. You can’t even speak up in there now because somebody will report it,” they said.
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“You’ll get called to an office and say, ‘Did you say that? Did you mean that?’ So, no, there isn’t freedom to speak.
“It’s a version of 1984.”
NHS England said in a statement: “The NHS is committed to creating a positive work environment and it is completely unacceptable for any member of staff to feel silenced or unable to speak about issues that are affecting them.
“Every trust has a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian and the NHS would encourage all colleagues to raise any concerns directly with them – whether it’s about patient safety or their own personal welfare.”
