Nursing in Practice launches ‘speaking up in primary care’ analysis

Nursing in Practice has today launched an exclusive analysis into speaking up in primary care, exploring current processes and the experiences of general practice nurses (GPNs) who whistleblow at work.

Our 'Speaking up' report considers why primary care is seen to be such a hard place to speak up in, including the barriers, staff hierarchies and inconsistent practice policy which can undermine GPN’s confidence in raising concerns.

Charity and sector leaders have described the support available for GPNs, as well as the improvements needed to better protect staff and patients in practice environments.

Long-term conditions lead at the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and primary care advanced nurse practitioner, Callum Metcalfe-O’Shea, says the variability of primary care – coupled with ‘lone working’ – can make it harder for nurses in the sector to speak up.

Mr Metcalfe-O’Shea argues that colleagues in secondary care benefit from having more structure and formal processes and policies in place.

Meanwhile, registered nurse and founder of campaign group NMC Watch, Catherine Watters, highlights the lack of protection whistleblowers may have.

‘At the moment whistleblowers are just out on their own, and they've been doing it for years on their own, swimming at sea, and they're lost really,’ she said.

Nursing in Practice has also spoken with one GPN who has bravely shared their experience of speaking up in primary care.

The GPN, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us of the bullying and intimidation they have faced since raising concerns about unsafe practice, including alleged misdiagnosis of patients and forged notes.

They said despite being targeted since speaking out earlier this year, they will not leave their workplace for fear that the situation would continue unaddressed.

And they believe a ‘safe place’ is needed for all GP staff – perhaps  away from the workplace – where individuals can go to raise complaints and feel assured that they will be taken seriously.

‘When I signed up to do nursing, over 10 years ago, you literally acknowledge that you're going to be honest, you're going to tell the truth, you're going to speak up if you see bad practice, and if you don't, I would just be just as bad for not saying anything,’ they said.

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