The GOsC supports NHS ‘Speaking Up’ Charter

The GOsC is pleased to support the ‘Speaking Up’ charter which outlines a commitment by the NHS Employers organisation, regulatory bodies, health unions and professional associations, to work together to support individuals who raise a safety concern or issue at work.

The ‘Speaking Up’ charter is one of the outcomes of the whistle-blowing summit held by NHS Employers in May 2012. The summit was attended by representatives from the regulators, including GOsC Chief Executive Tim Walker, health unions and professional associations, seeking to identify ways of working effectively together to remove the barriers which continue to prevent staff from reporting concerns early on.

The ‘Speaking Up’ charter recognises that to bring about a cultural shift in the NHS and other healthcare environments, it is vital that national organisations take a lead in promoting a culture that gives individuals the confidence to report concerns.

Twenty-eight organisations have signed the new charter, recognising their separate but linked responsibilities for the provision and regulation of care, or for supporting healthcare professionals to provide high quality, safe care.

For further information about the charter, and its signatories and supporters, see the NHS Employers website.

Guidance to osteopaths about speaking up and acting to keep patients from harm, can be found in Standard C9 of the Osteopathic Practice Standards.