Jeremy Hunt to ban gagging of NHS whistleblowers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Health Secretary has said so-called "gagging clauses" within NHS severance agreements will be banned following whistleblowers being prevented from speaking out over alleged hospital failings.
Jeremy Hunt last night said the "era of gagging NHS staff from raising their real worries about patient care" should end. He said departing staff should be given new legal rights to raise issues – including patient safety, death rates and poor care – that could be in the public interest even if they have signed severance agreements.
The move follows calls for a culture of "openness and transparency" in the NHS after the Mid Staffordshire scandal in which as many as 1,200 patients are thought to have died.
"There has been a culture where people felt if you speak up about problems in the NHS you didn't love the NHS," Mr Hunt said yesterday.
In the last three years some £14.7m has reportedly been spent on almost 600 "compromise agreements" for departing NHS staff.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments