In response to the employment tribunal findings in the case of Dr Kumar v the Care Quality Commission, Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, said:
“I am disappointed in the way this case was handled and sorry for the distress caused to Mr Kumar.
“As a regulator of services, it is imperative that the Care Quality Commission set the tone and role-model the good practice they require of others. Just as leadership fosters healthy cultures for organisations, speaking up can only become embedded at the organisational level when it is supported by the system.
“We will be working with the CQC to assist them in aligning their response to speaking up, both internally and externally, to ensure that workers who speak up are supported and the right actions taken.”