Raising concerns

Summary:

A landmark prosecution for failing to provide an adequate occupational health service was facilitated by an OH nurse whistleblowing to the HSE. But should more be done to enable employees to raise health and safety concerns without fear of reprisal?

RAMSAY Health Care UK’s (RHC’s) £550,000 fine for failing to provide an adequate OH service to protect staff and the public (this issue pp.15–19) underlines the importance of engaging competent OH professionals to meet health and safety (H&S) duties. RHC has since made systematic changes to its OH service and procedures to ensure legal compliance. The prosecution might never have happened, however, had it not been for a courageous OH nurse, Lynne Betts, raising concerns about serious H&S failings with the HSE…

Author: Ballard J

Tags bullying gmc general medical council health and safety hse - health and safety executive whistleblowing

Occupational Health at Work February/March 2018 (vol. 14/5) pp03

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