Supposedly, since then whistle-blowers have received stronger protection and support and can expose malpractice without being treated as the guilty party.
Well, that's the theory. In practice it seems that little has changed and whistle-blowers can still be told to shut up and stop making trouble.
The recent case of Lucy Letby, the nurse who murdered seven babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and could easily have murdered several more, showed that pointing out wrong-doing can still be seen as a hostile act rather than a necessary warning.
Two medical consultants, Dr Stephen Brearey and Dr Ravi Jayaram, both raised concerns about unexplained infant deaths at the hospital as early as July 2015.
But both were rebuffed constantly by hospital managers. Dr Jayaram was told "not to make a fuss". It wasn't until June 2016, after repeated complaints, that Letby was finally removed from her clinical duties.
Of course it's obvious why whistle-blowers are so badly treated. The members of staff who are at fault are desperate not to lose their good reputation, and in this case the good reputation of the hospital. So they turn on the whistle-blower to save their own skin and they refuse to admit to any mistakes.
There needs to be a new attitude that says it's okay to make mistakes, we all make them, and that admitting mistakes as soon as possible is a positive move and not a negative one. Confessing promptly to mistakes shouldn't damage your reputation, it should enhance it.
How many dangerous mistakes are still being covered up?
Pic: Lucy Letby
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No, I haven't died. Jenny and I have been in Liverpool for the Art Biennial, and to see two old friends in Chester. We had a great time and saw loads of wonderful artworks.
I just watched a doc on that awful Jimmy Savile, the king of coverups as everybody seemed to know he was a paedo and abuser. But hush-hush, he's a money maker and BBC rep, etc. I'd say the nurse is just the tip of the iceberg on all the deaths she has caused. There was another one in the US where they didn't bother with the rest of the deaths as they had enought to put her away for life. Very disturbing. All of it.
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www: Indeed, the years and years of cover-ups over Jimmy Savile, when everyone at the BBC knew what he was up to, is quite incredible.
DeleteI'm glad you're ok and had a good time where you went.
ReplyDeleteIt's a real shame that whistle blowers aren't given more protection and believed more so that they can help stop things like that from happening.
Mary: Thanks. It's high time whistle-blowers were given the protection they need and not treated like lepers.
DeleteThe institution protects itself.....the BBC and Saville, Elm House and Bojo....The Financial Ombudsman whitewashes the banks, Solicitors Regulation Authority the lawyers.....and the whistleblower threatens the institution's old Spanish practices.
ReplyDeleteFly: Ability to cover up seems to be an essential requirement for senior management jobs.
DeleteThe Lucy Letby case was such a sad travesty with helpless infants being victims to who can only be described as a sadistic human being. I watched part of the sentencing online and justice was served but a bit too late for the victims and families.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice: We can only be thankful she wasn't able to carry on and murder a few more babies.
DeleteGlad that you had a good time on your getaway and seeing good friends is one of the best things about an adventure.
ReplyDeleteThanks. We had a lovely time with our friends who took us to a very scenic Welsh town (Llangollen) for the day.
DeleteDid you take photos from your trip?
ReplyDeleteBijoux: No, none at all. But you can google Liverpool Biennial and see some of the artworks on show.
DeleteWhistle blowers should be protected but the contrary is the reality . I will always remember the scandal of the contaminated blood affair in France where a high number of patients contracted VIH and hepatitis .One of our near friends lost his wife who after a car accident needed a transfusion and was contaminated by the VIH and died 6 months later. All the scandals in hospitals, the abused and raped children in Church , institutions where priests were protected and this goes on still today. Really disgusting. I think we can hardly imagine how in all parts of our society things happen that are criminal and hidden by personal interests.
ReplyDeleteHannah
PS: Saïd and I are Art lovers and visit whenever possible exhibitions and art galleries.
Hannah: Sorry to hear about your friend's wife. You're probably aware that there was a similar scandal in the UK. Between 1970 and the early 1990s 26,800 people were given contaminated blood products infected with hepatitis C or HIV.
DeleteThe artworks in the Liverpool Biennial were amazing, well worth visiting.
I couldn't agree more, mistakes are often the only reason we learn and grow and change.
ReplyDeleteColette: Covering up mistakes in such a crucial area as the health service is especially disturbing.
DeleteI can't bear looking at that wretched woman's face.
ReplyDeleteAnyhow - let's hope that something is finally learnt from this terrible case.
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Ms Scarlet: I don't hold out much hope of any significant change in the cover-up mentality.
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