Highest numbers of speaking up cases raised with Freedom to Speak Up guardians recorded

Over 30,000 cases have been brought to Freedom to Speak Up guardians throughout 2023/24

The National Guardian’s Office today (18 July 2024) publishes the latest annual speaking up data report, which summarises the themes and learning from the speaking up data shared by Freedom to Speak Up guardians.

The number of cases brought to them last year was the highest ever recorded, a 27.6% increase on the previous year.

The report is published as the National Guardian announces her updated strategy to support cultural change in healthcare to improve worker experience and patient safety.

There are now over 1,200 Freedom to Speak Up guardians supporting healthcare workers to speak up about anything which has an impact on their ability to do their job if they do not feel able to by other means. Freedom to Speak Up guardians have handled over 130,000 cases since the National Guardian’s Office first started collecting data in 2017.

Nearly two in every five cases (38.5%) involved an element of inappropriate behaviours and attitudes. This matters because we know that working environments effect quality and safety, impacting on staffing, retention, and ways of working.

Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, said, “More and more people are coming to their Freedom to Speak Up guardians. This is credit to the efforts made by guardians to foster trust and break down barriers to speaking up within their organisations.

“Culture is a patient safety issue. Every interaction - whether patient, family member, colleague or consultant - makes a difference to lives and outcomes.”

The National Guardian’s refreshed vision for the work of the National Guardian’s Office is to improve workplace cultures, ensuring workers are confident to speak up, by providing expert support, guidance and challenge.

Since the role of Freedom to Speak Up Guardian was established in 2016, significant achievements have driven cultural change in organisations making it safer to speak up in the healthcare sector in England. However, there remains a lack of consistency in support for listening to workers’ voices, which is hampering further progress.

Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, said, “We know it can take courage to speak up. These case numbers represent 30,000 opportunities for learning and improvement for the benefit of patients and colleagues, yet too many voices still go unheard.

“Our strategic vision is to move the dial on Freedom to Speak Up. Of course workers should be safe to speak up – safety is the bare minimum - what we are aiming to achieve over the next few years is confidence. This comes when workers feel not only encouraged to raise matters, but that actions will be taken when they do.”

For more information or interviews contact: comms@nationalguardianoffice.org.uk

>ENDS<

Notes for editors:

About this report

Culture is a patient safety issue: a summary of speaking up to Freedom to Speak Up guardians

1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024

Published : 18 July 2024

Available from: www.nationalguardian.org.uk
This report summarises the cases raised with Freedom to Speak Up guardians from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Freedom to Speak Up Guardians submit non-identifiable information to the National Guardian’s Office (NGO) about the speaking up cases raised with them. This report is based on this information.

Data tables summarised in this report can be found on the NGO’s website.

Key data:

• 32,167 cases were raised with Freedom to Speak Up Guardians in 2023/24. The highest number of cases recorded – a 27.6% increase from 2022/23.
• Workers from a range of professional groups spoke up to Freedom to Speak Up guardians. Nurses and midwives accounted for the biggest portion (28.3%) of cases raised.
• The percentage of cases which were raised anonymously was 9.5%. This was similar to the percentage raised anonymously in 2022/23 (9.4%).
• One in every three cases raised (32.3%) involved an element of worker safety or wellbeing. An increase from one in every four cases (27.6%) in 2022/23.
• Two in every five cases raised (38.5%) involved an element of inappropriate behaviours and attitudes. The most reported theme in 2023/24.
• 19.8% of cases reported included an element of bullying or harassment. A 2-percentage point fall compared to 2022/23.
• 18.7% of cases raised included an element of patient safety/quality, a marginal drop compared to 2022/23 (19.4%).
• Detriment for speaking up was indicated in 4.0% of cases, the same as in 2022/23.
• Four-fifths (79.8%) of those who gave feedback said they would speak up again.

About the National Guardian’s Office strategy

The NGO’s Strategy on a Page is available here: https://nationalguardian.org.uk/2024/07/08/ngo-strategy/

About the National Guardian’s Office

The National Guardian’s Office works to make speaking up become business as usual to effect cultural change in the NHS.

The office leads, trains and supports a network of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians in England and provides learning and challenge on speaking up matters to the healthcare system as a whole, including through its Speak Up Reviews.

The role of Freedom to Speak Up guardians and the National Guardian were established in 2016 following the events at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and recommendations from Sir Robert Francis’ Freedom to Speak Up Inquiry.

There are now over 1,200 Freedom to Speak Up guardians in NHS primary and secondary care and independent sector organisations, national bodies and elsewhere that ensure workers can speak up about anything which has an impact on their ability to do their job.

About Freedom to Speak Up Guardians

Freedom to Speak Up guardians support workers to speak up when they feel that they are unable to do so by other ways. They ensure that people who speak up are thanked, that the issues they raise are responded to, and make sure that the person speaking up receives feedback on the actions taken. Guardians also work proactively to support their organisation to tackle barriers to speaking up.

www.nationalguardian.org.uk

About the National Guardian for the NHS

Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark was appointed as National Guardian in December 2021.

She is a registered nurse with more than 30 years’ experience in healthcare.

She has experience in the NHS, higher education, voluntary and private sectors, as a nurse, leader, board member – as director and non-executive director – and a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian.

Her specialist clinical area is end of life care in which she was awarded her PhD. She is the Independent Chair for the Oxfordshire Safeguarding Adults Board