NHS staff alert line

21 May 2013 10:17 AM

A free, confidential phone line for NHS Scotland staff who wish to raise any concerns about practices in NHS Scotland has received 34 calls from Scotland since it was launched.

The National Confidential Alert Line for NHS employees went live in April this year and  provides an additional level of support and advice for staff.

23 calls anonymously raised concerns about NHS practices while 11 calls related to personnel or contractual matters. As well as this, 19 calls were received from health workers in other parts of the UK excluding Scotland.

All of the concerns that employees raised were passed on to the relevant authority for further investigation.    

Health Secretary Alex Neil said:

“It is vitally important that all NHS workers feel that they can raise any concerns they may have about patient safety and malpractice because it helps to improve our health service. 

“We have created a way that staff can speak to an independent organisation, anonymously , safely and confidentially. I have also been clear that any areas of concern have to be investigated so that lessons will be learned.

“Over the month of March, 158,000 fliers and 5,000 posters have been distributed to NHS Scotland staff and this publicity drive is set to continue to make sure that everyone who needs it knows about this service.

“While the Francis Inquiry focused on NHS England, we can still learn lessons about our NHS listening to staff and patients and learning from mistakes.”

The contract to provide the Alert Line was awarded to Public Concern at Work.  Public Concern at Work will also support callers to pursue their case with the appropriate regulator when they consider this to be the most suitable course of action.

Figures on the alert line will be published quarterly on the Scottish Government website. The levels of calls over the first three months will be used to set a baseline figure on which to measure future calls.