Doctor concerns over standards of care 'ignored'
Doctors' concerns over standards of care 'ignored'
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Wednesday, 03, Jun 2009 08:22
A new study has found doctors are frequently frustrated in their attempts to raise concerns about standards of care and their ability to introduce new ideas.
The research by the British Medical Association (BMA) found three quarters of the 565 doctors questioned admitted they had concerns over issues relating to patient safety, malpractice or bullying.
Seven out of ten of those with concerns said they had raised them with the relevant authority at their health trust but many described their experiences of reporting issues as being negative, with many saying they were unaware that anything had happened as a result.
Worryingly, over 15 per cent of doctors who had reported concerns said their trusts had indicated that by speaking up, their employment could be negatively affected.
In his keynote speech to the annual Consultants Conference in London today, the chairman of the BMA's consultants committee, Dr Jonathan Fielden, is expected to call for a culture change in the NHS.
He will say: "Our report shows that doctors are clearly striving to improve quality of care.
"However, it is worrying that some trusts seem to be stifling professional voices. This culture of inactivity and despair is preventing issues from coming to light, and putting patient care at risk.
"No doctor, no nurse, no porter, anywhere in the NHS should be made to feel that speaking up for their patients is a bad career move."
He added that all concerns should be taken seriously, while any ideas for improvements should also always be encouraged.
"A cultural change across the whole NHS is urgently needed," he will add.
The survey results are expected to be used to help produce a new BMA guidance on whistle-blowing, which is due to be published in July.