Freedom to speak up
Our Trust is committed to developing an open and honest culture, where staff can speak out about any concerns about unsafe patient care. We work to ensure our staff feel confident that their concerns are welcomed and taken seriously, and that they will be heard, investigated and responded to quickly.
We'd like to remind all staff: if in doubt, please speak up. It doesn’t matter if you are mistaken, as long as you are genuinely concerned.
Safe and respectful treatment of our patients and service users is our main aim and all our staff, trainees and students are the ones best placed to identify if care standards are not at the high level they should be.
If poor practice or wrongdoing is taking place, then it is everyone’s responsibility in our organisation to recognise and raise this, rather than to turn a blind eye.
Our Freedom to Speak up Guardian is Sarah Stenlake. The Guardian is as an additional independent person with whom our staff can consult in confidence. She offers support and advice on how best to take matters forward with confidence, to ensure that the Trust deals with any concerns appropriately, and that all staff who speak up are treated well.