New support measures for NHS whistleblowers announced

New measures are to be introduced to make it easier for primary care staff to blow the whistle on examples of bad practice.

NHS England has drawn up new whistleblowing guidance, which will be consulted on over the next five weeks, with the aim of making it easier and safer for staff to raise concerns, and for them to feel confident that action will be taken and improvements made.

Proposals include ensuring that all providers name an individual to listen to concerns who is independent of the line management chain, and is not the direct employer of the staff member in question.

Primary care providers have also been urged to be proactive in preventing any inappropriate behaviour like bullying, harassment or discrimination towards staff who raise a concern, while reviewing their local policies and procedures by March 2017 to align with the agreed guidance.

Neil Churchill, NHS England's director for patient experience, said: "Becoming the world's safest health system requires us to listen to staff and act on valid concerns."