Today (6 July 2023), the National Guardian’s Office released its annual report on speaking up data collected from Freedom to Speak Up guardians. The report revealed that last year saw the highest ever number of cases being brought to guardians, with 25,000 cases reported – a 25% increase from the previous year.
The report also showed that the proportion of cases reported anonymously is decreasing, indicating a growing confidence in the guardian route, with only 9.3% of cases reported anonymously in 2022/23.
The highest proportion of cases (30%) involved inappropriate behaviors and attitudes, whilst 27.4% of cases involved elements of worker safety and wellbeing. 19.3% of cases involved elements of patient safety/quality.
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, commented, “No one should be punished for doing the right thing. When people speak up it is because they want things to improve – whether that is for the safety and quality of care for patients or the working environment for colleagues.”
She went on to thank those who spoke up and said, “You have provided 25,000 opportunities for learning and improvement for the benefit of patients and colleagues.”
For more information or interviews, contact comms@nationalguardianoffice.org.uk
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