A “culture of fear and intimidation” remains in the health service despite the introduction of a confidential telephone line, it has been claimed.
Rab Wilson, a health worker whose questions led to failings being uncovered at NHS Ayrshire and Arran, said more work needs to be done to raise awareness of the phone line, launched last month.
Mr Wilson claimed there is still a “culture of fear” in the NHS which needs to change.
“I have not seen any advertisements in any newspapers,” he said. “I have not heard anything on the radio. I’ve not seen anything on the television to tell anyone. Where is the advertising campaign for this?
“It does certainly seem that there is culture of fear in the NHS which is very real and staff at the coalface are terrified about raising issues in case they become the victims and that whole culture needs to change.”
His concerns are echoed by Labour health spokeswoman Jackie Baillie, who claims “very few” NHS staff are aware of the phone line.
“There appears to have been little information distributed and I agree with Rab Wilson’s comments that staff don’t seem to be aware,” she said.
“What we’re seeing is a culture of fear and intimidation that stops people from stepping forward and saying this is a problem.
“If the policies aren’t right on the ground, the culture isn’t right at health board level.”
More NHS whistleblowers have contacted her in the last five months “than appear to have been recorded by all of the NHS in the last five years”, she said, adding staff are “bullied and harassed and fearful of coming forward”.
The line was set up in April in the wake of the Francis Inquiry which uncovered “appalling” failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust in England.
At the time Health Secretary Alex Neil said: “It is important all NHS workers feel that they can raise any concerns they may have safely and confidentially and be reassured that health boards will listen.”
He added: “We already have whistleblowing policies in place and expect health boards to listen to staff and ensure that any concerns raised are properly considered and if necessary investigated.
“These policies ensure that all NHS Scotland employees have the opportunity to raise any concerns they may have.”