The National Guardian’s Office today (June 8, 2023) published its analysis of questions related to expression of opinion in the 2022 NHS Staff Survey.
The Freedom to Speak Up sub-score fell from 6.5 in 2021 to 6.4 in this year’s NHS staff survey. This decrease corresponds to a 1.5% change in responses to the speaking questions. Given the number of respondents to these questions (over 600,000 workers), this could equate to a decrease in the confidence of over 9,000 workers to speak up. All actions related to the statement were denials, both for raising clinical safety concerns and for the statement in general.
While the results have improved since the 2015 Freedom to Speech Review and resulting response, it continues the decline in NHS workers’ confidence to speak up since the pandemic. Of particular concern is the marked decrease in people’s sense of security in raising a clinical concern.
Speaking up can only lead to improvement if leaders and managers listen and dig deeper. The related question of whether people feel their concerns are taken into account when speaking up has also deteriorated. This creates a worrying picture of potentially increasing disillusionment and a feeling that speaking out is futile.
said dr Jayne Chidgey-Clark, NHS National Guardian: “It is unacceptable that two out of five workers who took part in the NHS Employee Survey feel unable to speak out about something that is preventing them from doing their job.”
“These survey responses tell us there is a growing sense that speaking out in the NHS is futile – that nothing is changing. When workers raise concerns, including the impact of staff shortages and ailing infrastructure, their managers themselves may find it difficult to be heard when trying to address those concerns.
“I want to join the voice of others that this needs to be addressed urgently.
“Failing to do so risks reinforcing a sense that workers do not have the resources they need to provide their patients with the quality care they desire. With three out of ten patients feeling unsafe to raise clinical concerns, this will have a direct impact on patient safety.”
This will have a direct impact on patient safety.”
For more information or interviews, contact: comms@nationalguardianoffice.org.uk
