THE organisation representing patient’s interest in Worcestershire has thrown its support behind a campaign encouraging staff to speak up if something goes wrong.

Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust – which runs the majority of community and mental health services in the county – has launched a series of posters calling on colleagues to blow the whistle if they feel patients are not getting the care they should.

Chairman of Healthwatch Worcestershire Peter Pinfield has welcomed the campaign, dubbed If It’s Not Right, Speak Up.

“It is really important that staff are confident to raise any concerns they might have regarding the care a patient is receiving,” he said.

“Often staff are in the best place to notice if something isn’t good enough or at the standard we would all expect so speaking out and raising the alarm is vital to ensuring poor practice is highlighted wherever it occurs.

“The Health and Care Trust is right to remind its staff of their responsibilities and we welcome the campaign they’ve launched.”

The trust’s director of nursing Sandra Brennan said it was important staff felt able to raise concerns as early as possible.

“All the information and evidence we collate from talking to patients, family members and carers suggests quite clearly the care we provide meets the really high standards we set,” she said. “However that doesn’t mean we should be complacent and shouldn’t always strive to do better.

“We really value our staff who work hard in what is a demanding environment, but it is important they are reminded of their responsibilities when it comes to whistleblowing.”

The trust has also put its name to the Nursing Times’ Speak Out Safely campaign, which is also encouraging whistleblowing in the workplace.