Summary
Over 30,000 cases have been brought to Freedom to Speak Up guardians throughout 2023/24 - the highest ever recorded, a 27.6% increase on the previous year.
The National Guardian’s Office today (18 July 2024) publishes the latest annual speaking up data report, which summarises the themes and learning from the speaking up data shared by Freedom to Speak Up guardians.
Nearly two in every five cases (38.5%) involved an element of inappropriate behaviours and attitudes. This matters because we know that working environments effect quality and safety, impacting on staffing, retention, and ways of working.
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, said, “More and more people are coming to their Freedom to Speak Up guardians. This is credit to the efforts made by guardians to foster trust and break down barriers to speaking up within their organisations.
“Culture is a patient safety issue. Every interaction – whether patient, family member, colleague or consultant – makes a difference to lives and outcomes.”
Dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, National Guardian for the NHS, said, “We know it can take courage to speak up. These case numbers represent 30,000 opportunities for learning and improvement for the benefit of patients and colleagues, yet too many voices still go unheard.
Read the report: Culture is a patient safety issue: Annual Speaking Up data report
Find out more about the cases raised with Freedom to Speak Up guardians