Campaign launched to ‘democratise’ the Scottish NHS
WHISTLE-BLOWERS have claimed that as many as 2,000 unnecessary deaths are taking place in Scottish NHS services every year at the launch of their campaign to reform health services.
Former and current NHS staff and legal experts made the claim at the launch of their campaign for ‘A Safe and Accountable NHS’ (ASAP-NHS) yesterday (Wednesday 27 January) at the Scottish Parliament
The event, chaired by left wing Labour MSP Neil Findlay, featured testimony from whistle-blowers, former and current health professional from various NHS Scotland services and relatives of patients who died in the care of Scottish NHS services and heard repeated claims that as many as 2,000 people per year may be dying unnecessarily due to pressures such as under staffing. Campaigners stated the figure was as yet unverifiable due to NHS Scotland lack of independent regulation.
The meeting of around 50 concerned citizens, which also included trade union activists from hospital unions, heard that the NHS was struggling under a culture of “commercialism” and “managerialism” which led to chronic problems being concealed by “cliques” at the executive level of the health service.
“Since the 1980s we have had a new problem with the commercialisation and resultant managerialism of NHS.” Ian Kerr, ASAP-NHS
“But since the 1980s we have had a new problem with the commercialisation and resultant managerialism of NHS. Although the Scottish NHS is not nearly as commercialised as its English counterpart, it has still suffered from this culture.”
Responding to the claims, Health Secretary Shona Robison said: “The Scottish Government has made absolutely clear to health boards that they must ensure it is safe and acceptable for staff to speak up about any concerns they may have, particularly in relation to patient safety, and with the knowledge that any genuine concern will be treated seriously and investigated properly.
“We are in the process of establishing the role of an Independent National Whistle-blowing Officer, to provide an independent and external review on the handling of whistle-blowing cases in NHSScotland. This builds on measures already in place including an external confidential alert line, through which staff can raise concerns and the introduction of Whistle-blowing Champions in each health board last year.
“These actions should demonstrate our commitment to support whistle-blowers across our NHS, and we hope this new pressure group can make a positive contribution to this agenda and the considerable work we have underway.”