National Guardian’s Office Finds Decline in NHS Workers’ Confidence to Speak Up about Clinical Safety Concerns
London, UK – The National Guardian’s Office has released its analysis of the 2023 NHS Staff Survey, revealing a concerning decline in workers’ confidence to speak up about unsafe clinical practice. This is the second consecutive year of decline, raising concerns about patient safety and the overall state of the NHS.
According to the analysis, while there has been a slight improvement in workers’ confidence to speak up about any concerns, there has been a five-year low in the number of respondents who feel secure raising concerns about unsafe clinical practice. This is particularly concerning for medical professionals, with a decline of around six percentage points since 2021.
The Freedom to Speak Up sub-score, which measures workers’ confidence in speaking up, remained stable this year at 6.46, a slight improvement from 2022 (6.44). However, this is still a cause for concern, especially as the data shows a continued decline since the 2015 Freedom to Speak Up Review and resulting actions.
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, expressed her concerns about the implications of this decline in confidence for patient safety. “These figures must focus the minds of those who lead healthcare organizations,” she said. “If your people feel they cannot speak up about matters affecting patient care, or if they do, nothing will happen, how can you be assured that you are delivering your best for patients?”
The National Guardian’s Office also noted an increase in the number of cases being raised to Freedom to Speak Up guardians, indicating that other speaking up routes may not be effective or trusted. Dr Chidgey-Clark emphasized the importance of creating a positive experience for workers who speak up. “When workers have a good experience when they speak up, they share that experience and we will begin to change the conversation of what it means to speak up in healthcare.”
She also added, “The NHS may be broken, but by listening to our people, we can begin to fix it.”
For more information or interviews, please contact the National Guardian’s Office at comms@nationalguardianoffice.org.uk.
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