Speak Up Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about how to raise concerns and promote a positive speak up culture within NHS Lanarkshire. We want to highlight the importance of speaking up and learning from concerns.
The theme this year is ‘Enabling Speaking Up,’ recognising the vital role that open communication and leadership play in ensuring the NHS performs to the highest standards for both patients and staff.
Eddie Docherty, NHS Lanarkshire Whistleblowing Champion and Executive Nurse Director, explains the importance of Speak Up Week in the following video.
Eddie said: “Patient safety and quality is always at the heart of what we try to do here.
“As part of Speak Up Week, we want to remind you of the importance of escalating and passing on any concerns you have. We have multiple pathways for you to escalate any issues, including and up to whistleblowing.
“If there is anything that is a problem that you don’t think is being addressed, please feel free to escalate, to link with colleagues and we will try to find a solution. Please believe us when we say we want to support you.”
You can find out more about how to raise a concern and other useful resources on the following link:
Confidential contacts are an initial point of contact for staff wishing to raise a whistleblowing concern. Their role is independent of management and they can provide a safe space to discuss concerns and provide support and advice. Contact details are as follows:
- Ann Marie Blaney – 01698 366449
- Dr Megha Jani – 01355 585058
- Dr Rachna Lalsinghani – 01698 755366 (designated for independent primary care contractors)
- Nsenam Obot – 01698 366523
The confidential contacts can also be contacted via NHS Lanarkshire’s global email address list.
Staff are reminded that NHS Lanarkshire is a safe place in which to raise concerns about matters that are in the public interest. In addition to contacting a confidential contact, staff can raise concerns by emailing uMatter@lanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk or by speaking to their manager or a member of the HR department.
The National Whistleblowing Standards was introduced in April 2021 to help staff raise concerns as early as possible and supporting and protecting staff when they do raise concerns, giving them confidence to raise concerns if they see something wrong.
