NHS Providers response to claims that staff concerns around PPE have been ignored

15 May 2020

Responding to the claims that staff concerns have been ignored and some threatened for whistleblowing, NHS Providers chief executive Chris Hopson said:

"This is the most challenging and difficult period in the NHS’s history and all staff are understandably feeling anxious and concerned about their safety. Ensuring staff have the right equipment is a top priority for all trust leaders.

"It is vital that staff are able to raise concerns. All trusts have extensive whistleblowing processes in place including freedom to speak up guardians whose role is to support staff to raise concerns.

"All trust leaders want to encourage staff to raise any concerns directly with their line managers or through the confidential routes available.

"Where someone raises concerns, trust leaders are clear that it is unacceptable for any member of staff to feel threatened for speaking up.

"Trust leaders know that individual staff members may not always have the big picture and the whole story, for example, the trust wide position on particular items of PPE.

"As is the case in any major incident or crisis, trusts also have to ensure that all communication on the trust’s overall position is consistent and accurate.

"This is why staff are always encouraged to follow the trust’s advice and to raise any issues through formal whistleblowing channels.

"We know that there a very small number of individual instances where staff believe that the national guidelines on PPE, which are aligned with World Health Organisation guidance, are insufficient or inadequate.

"Whilst trust leaders will seek to listen carefully to any staff members’ concerns and take account of these in the roles they ask staff to perform, it is their job to ensure compliance with the guidelines, in line with what all their other members of staff are doing."