Whistleblowing
When is a concern classed as Whistleblowing?
Whistleblowing is when a person, usually working with or in a public service, raises a concern of mismanagement, corruption, illegality, or some other wrongdoing. The public value of whistle-blowing has been increasingly recognised since the term was introduced in the 1960s, and is an invaluable mechanism for organisations to become aware of issues that need to be addressed.
Another helpful definition of whistleblowing is when someone who works (or worked) within an organisation raises a concern that relates to speaking up in the public interest where an act or omission has created, or may create, a risk of harm or wrong doing, or exposes information or activity that is deemed illegal, unsafe, or a waste, fraud, or abuse of taxpayer funds.
NHS Grampian, the three Health and Social Care Partnerships (HSCPs) and the other NHS care providers in Grampian, are united in their aim to develop a culture that welcomes, handles and responds to concerns in a caring and supportive way.
To achieve this we are working together across the whole care system to embed an efficient, consistent, system wide approach which promotes, encourages and ensures learning comes from whistleblowing concerns. A key part of this, is for all staff to feel supported and given the time they need to work through one of the whistleblowing modules on Turas, which takes 30-40 minutes.
Details of NHS Grampian’s Whistleblowing Handling Process are available (pdf)
When is a concern not classed as Whistleblowing?
‘Business as Usual’
We may encounter, learn or see things that we worry about if they are right or not, or that become an area of concern for us. In the first instance any concerns like this should be raised with your line manager if possible. This is so issues can be resolved quickly under ‘business as usual’ processes if possible. However, if approaching a line manager would be difficult, or you feel an investigation is needed, please contact one of the whistleblowing confidential contacts who will be happy to offer help and advice.
Grievance Raising
Grievance raising is different to whistleblowing concern raising. The term ‘grievance’ usually refers to a concern or complaint about a staff member’s own employment situation, and not about a public interest issue. A good test is to think about the outcome hoped for when raising the concern. Is it to address or improve things for members of the public, patients or staff, or would the outcome be more about improving things for the concern raiser as an individual. Grievances should be raised to the HR Hub (please note this is an NHS Grampian Intranet link and cannot be accessed on devices not connected to the NHS Grampian Intranet), who can offer you support and expert advice on how best these can be handled.
What to expect if you raise a Whistleblowing Concern?
There are currently 19 whistleblowing confidential contacts in the Grampian area. They are available to receive whistleblowing concerns from anyone involved in providing NHS services in all types of services and locations across Grampian.
When a whistleblowing concern is raised to a confidential contact, the concern will be handled completely confidentially. This means the identity of the concern raiser will not be shared with anyone, only the details of the concern are carefully passed on to an individual to investigate.
The confidential contact will ensure protection and support is given to the person raising the concern. They will also ensure the person who investigates the concern is trained, independent and that there is no conflict of interest. The confidential contact will provide verbal and written updates on progress, completion, and outcome of the investigation, including action being taken.
Whistleblowing concerns should be resolved in 3 working days if possible. If the concern is more complex, it should be investigated and fed back in 20 working days. If the concern raiser is unhappy with the handling or outcome of the concern, they should raise this with the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO).
The INWO will look at how the concern was handled, what the findings were, and can direct the NHS Board to take further action as a result. For more information about Whistleblowing and the INWO please visit their website.
In addition to expecting support and confidential handling of a concern, the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (PIDA) allows legal protection against discrimination for a person raising a whistleblowing concern. This ‘protected disclosure’ applies when the legal test is passed - when the concern raiser ‘reasonably believes’ the concern they are raising is in the public’s best interest.
Who can raise a Whistleblowing Concern?
Whistleblowing concerns can be raised by anyone who is (or has been) providing services for the NHS, or working to provide services with NHS staff which includes:
- All NHS Grampian staff.
- All Health and Social Care staff.
- All those working in non-private Primary Care Services (including both salaried and independent practices).
- Anyone contracted to provide services for NHS Grampian.
- All Agency staff and Locums.
- All Students, Trainees and Apprentices.
- All Volunteers and Third Sector Organisations.
How can Whistleblowing Concerns be raised?
You can raise a whistleblowing concern by contacting one of the Speak Up Ambassadors (details below). You can also:
- Fill in this short online confidential form.
- E-mail gram.whistleblowing@nhs.scot.
Please tell us if you have any particular needs when accessing our service.
Whistleblowing concerns can also be raised:
- Through a manager or member of staff who can support you to make contact with a confidential contact.
- Through your University or College, who can contact the confidential contact on your behalf and protect your identity completely.
- Through your Volunteer Co-ordinator, who can contact the confidential contact on your behalf and protect your identity completely.
Please note the confidential contacts are available to support and offer advice to anyone working, supporting, volunteering, or undertaking training in any place providing NHS services in Grampian, regardless of their role or who they are employed by.
Find out more about speaking-up and whistleblowing at Speak Up Week 2022 (nhsgrampian.org)
NHS Grampian Whistleblowing Annual Report 2022-2023:
This is NHS Grampian’s second annual Whistleblowing report (pdf), covering the period 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023. This report includes the whistleblowing concerns received during this period by NHS Grampian, as per the criteria set out in the National Whistleblowing Standards, which was introduced on 1 April 2021.
NHS Grampian's first annual Whistleblowing report (pdf) for the period from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 is also available.
NHS Grampian Board Whistleblowing Champion
Bert Donald
Bert Donald is NHS Grampian’s recently appointed Independent Whistleblowing Champion. Bert was recruited by and is directly accountable to the Scottish Government, and in this role sits as a non-executive member of the NHS Grampian Board.
Previously, Bert served in Grampian Police for 38 years and had been in the very highly regarded position of Assistant Chief Constable when he retired, which is one of the top police force positions.
We are very grateful to have Bert in this role, with the wealth of experience he brings, to support our ambition to be an organisation that truly values, and responds efficiently and effectively to, whistleblowing concerns.
NHS Grampian Whistleblowing and Speak Up Manager
Katie Cunningham
Katie has recently been appointed to the role of Whistleblowing and Speak Up Manager for NHS Grampian. Katie first joined NHS Grampian as a student in 2009 and has gone on to hold positions in Corporate Public Health and Aberdeen Health & Social Care Partnership. An ILM accredited coach, she has a keen interest in workplace culture.
Katie says: "It’s a privilege to have this role and to be provided with an opportunity to support colleagues across our organisation.’’
Confidential Contacts (Speak Up Ambassadors)
Anushree Ganguly (Annie)
E-mail: anushree.ganguly@nhs.scot
I’m Anushree Ganguly (Annie) and I work with the North Cancer Alliance Team as a Regional Project Manager. I’m a confidential contact as I am a creative and inventive thinker who craves a challenge and is not afraid to work outside my comfort zone. I have versatility of working in various multicultural and diverse workforces and I am passionate about the values and visions of NHS Grampian. I aim to promote an open, honest, and responsible culture where staff are supported to raise concerns and feel empowered.
Aileen Cameron
E-mail: aileen.cameron1@nhs.scot Tel: 07772 579343
I’m a Quality Improvement and Assurance Coordinator with a special interest in external inspection and how we share learning as an organisation. My role is concerned with clinical governance and I am also a qualified dental nurse.
Ian Mckay
E-mail: ian.mckay2@nhs.scot Tel: 07572 029739
Ian is a former Royal Marines Commando, who on completion of a distinguished military service, joined NHS Grampian in 2000. Ian works alongside a team of respected Veterans, former Police and security professionals who have responsibility for the safety and security of patients, staff and facilities.
In addition to being a Confidential Contact, Ian is an accredited Unison Grampian Branch - Trade Union Steward, and Health and Safety Representative. Ian is highly passionate about wanting to help and support colleagues in the workplace, is committed to and robustly protecting their interests, dignity and respect. Ian will carefully listen to your concern and observations, whilst ensuring appropriate respect for confidentiality.
Caroline Anderson
E-mail: caroline.anderson11@nhs.scot Tel: 01224 554086
I’ve been a staff nurse for 20 years, part of this was as a Senior Lecturer at NESOL and Learning & Development Lead at BAC acting as guidance and pastoral support for staff and students. I worked as an appointee for SQA, part of the team editing and writing unit specifications and assessments for the new HNC Healthcare. I now work as part of the Practice Education team.
I wanted to become a confidential contact as I have a strong sense of ethics and fairness, want to pursue constructive change and want to safeguard others.
As Andrew Schneider would say ‘A person has 3 choices in life. You can swim against the tide and get exhausted, or you can tread the water and let the tide sweep you away, or you can swim with the tide, and let it take you where it wants you to go.’
Rachel Medich
E-mail: rachel.medich@nhs.scot Tel: 01224 552077
I’m Rachel and I’ve worked in the NHS for 20 years, starting as a pharmacy technician before moving to a very busy ED on the outskirts of the Lake District. From there I obtained my DipHE in Operating Department Practice and joined the HCPC register, moving to Aberdeen at the same time and commencing a job in obstetric theatres.
I worked my way from newly qualified practitioner, to team leader in theatres within ARI, before returning to my passion of family services, specifically obstetrics.
I’m a huge advocate for well-being and positive mental health. I believe that if you look after your team, they in turn, will look after the patients.
I’m also an advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace and am happy to offer support to neurodiverse colleagues who wish to raise concerns.
Sonya Duncan
E-mail: sonya.duncan@nhs.scot Tel: 07772 601311
I have a varied background and have worked across several parts of the Grampian system over the last 27 years. We understand that sometimes people need guidance to raise concerns and we should support this, we are all service users too! I am keen to promote service improvement and continuous learning at every opportunity. Whistleblowing should encourage us to be open and honest, and learn from incidents and events.
Carolyn Lamb
E-mail: carolyn.lamb@nhs.scot Tel: 0750 0033689
I have worked in NHSG for 15 years and am based in Aberdeenshire working in Public Health for last 13 years. I became a confidential contact in 2019 as I wanted to enable people working in the organisation to have a safe place to share any issues they may experience in the workplace.
Laura Wallace
E-mail: laura.wallace5@nhs.scot
I work in Clinical Biochemistry as a medical secretary. I am based at the ARI campus. My background previous to this role has been in HR where I gained a wealth of experience in reviewing of policies and having in-depth conversations in sensitive topics. This is the reason why I wanted to become a speak up ambassador, as I believe my background would be beneficial in this role.
Marion Drysdale
E-mail: marion.drysdale@nhs.scot
I'm a Senior Biomedical Scientist in Medical Microbiology, based in the Link Building at ARI, Orange Zone.
I previously volunteered as an NHSG Confidential Contact focusing mainly on assisting staff with bullying and harassment concerns, but I am looking forward to providing staff with support in these new expanded roles.
Pauline Ganley
E-mail: pauline.ganley@nhs.scot Tel: 01224 554496
I am a Clinical Research Nurse based in the Clinical Pharmacology Department in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. My role as a speak-up ambassador will allow me to promote NHS Grampian values, and support my colleagues within the organisation.
Catherine Buchan
E-mail: catherine.buchan@nhs.scot
My name is Catherine Buchan and I am a Medical Secretary based in Ward 209 (Urology), Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. I wanted to become a confidential contact as it sounded like a worthwhile venture and would be beneficial for anyone wanting information when they perhaps do not know who to turn to in need.
Tracy Stronach
E-mail: tracy.stronach@nhs.scot
My name is Tracy Stronach, my current role, is that of Senior Charge Midwife at Dr Gray’s hospital. I have been a midwife for 14 years, having trained at Robert Gordon’s University.
I am pleased to have had the opportunity to train as a speak up ambassador.
Katy Styles
E-mail: katy.styles@nhs.scot
I have worked for the NHS since 2019 and for NHS Grampian since 2022. I'm an occupational therapist by background and currently work as Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals (NMAHP) Lead for Realistic Medicine based in Ashgrove House although my work is system wide. In 2022 I was involved in developing the national whistleblowing guidance for allied health professions (AHP) students in Scotland so I can support any students with concerns about patient, public or staff safety, harm or wrongdoing. Equally, I can support any member of staff who has a concern. I'm a true believer in nurturing a learning culture and I think the confidential contact role can help to do this.
Fiona Gardner
E-mail: fiona.gardner3@nhs.scot Tel: 07772 601 775
I’m Fiona, Marketing & Campaigns Coordinator for NHS Grampian. My role sits within the Marketing and Visual Communications team where I support teams with their messaging for publications, campaign planning and content strategy. I am also responsible for the digital marketing screen and fleet vehicle billboard advertising for NHS Grampian. I became a confidential contact because I believe in the power of communication, and I want to help people by letting them know the channels available to them when it comes to resolving and reporting workplace issues.
Melissa Murray
E-mail: melissa.murray1@nhs.scot
I am a staff nurse in Ward 103 which comprises of toxicology and short stay medical. I have been qualified for nearly 3 years and chose to become a confidential contact to ensure my peers across the organisation have the support and guidance they need to navigate challenging situations.
Pamela Jack
My current role is Engagement Coordinator within the NHS Grampian Public Involvement Team. This involves liaising and engaging with the public, patients and colleagues to review and improve services and help to develop a positive work culture. I previously worked as a Senior Public Health Practitioner advising on workplace policies, activities and processes to support employee health. This included delivering the Mentally Healthy Workplace training for managers. I feel passionately about individuals having a voice and providing a safe space for concerns to be raised, listened to, and acted upon, enabling the organisation to develop and improve for the benefit of all.
Fiona Findlay
E-mail: fiona.findlay1@nhs.scot
I’m currently a Service Manager in Trauma and Orthopaedics. Prior to this I was a Police Officer for 15 years and joined NHS Grampian in 2014, where I was an Assistant HR Manager for 7 years.
I think it is important NHS Grampian has a culture where people feel they can speak up and know their voices will be heard.