An NHS Nurse has shared her experience of whistleblowing, emphasising the importance of fostering a positive culture of speaking up in healthcare.
Annie Norman, a nurse with over 30 years experience, raised two patient safety concerns in 2010. While this was before the introduction of the National Whistleblowing Standards in 2021, her story is as relevant as ever.
Annie tells of how her concerns were not addressed directly, were not handled with sensitivity and that she was wrongly disciplined.
She was initially stopped from working; when she returned to work, she was moved to a different department. The impact on her mental health was profound and led to nearly 40 GP appointments, sessions with various therapists and 15 months off work over a five-year period. Annie shared some difficult memories, she told us:
“My family life was held in limbo, I had teenage children at the time, I was struggling to keep my contract and I was in therapy.”
It took 10 years to resolve Annie's concerns. During that time, she had nine job redeployments, 40 occupational health appointments and 29 management meetings. She credits her recovery to the support from her family, her MSP, and the whistleblowing community.
Annie now advocates for speaking up and gives talks to colleagues across NHS Highland with Julie McAndrew, a Speak Up Guardian and Confidential Contact. When asked what managers need to do to make staff feel safe in speaking up, Annie was clear:
"Managers need to empathise with their staff, demonstrate their confidentiality and show that no matter is too small to talk about.”
Julie, echoed Annie’s advice, adding:
“Managers can incorporate speaking up into their day-to-day chats with staff, training sessions and briefing sessions… ensuring they know where they can go to raise concerns.”
The 2019 Sturrock Report on bullying and harassment in NHS Highland, led to significant improvements. It was followed by the legislation that created the role of Independent National Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) for NHS Scotland, held by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.
Annie reflected on these improvements:
“I feel that NHS Highland has made a terrific step forward in the last couple of years. It speaks volumes that we are able to record this interview today.”
Rosemary Agnew, Independent National Whistleblowing Officer said,
"I am grateful to Annie for her courage and commitment in speaking up. I admire her openness in sharing her painful experience in such a public way. I am also encouraged by her positivity and that the work done by NHS Highland has created an environment where she felt able to speak.
It is my hope that others will feel empowered to speak up and that NHS leaders and managers take notice of their instrumental role in creating a healthy speak up culture by listening, acting and supporting their workforce."
You can watch our full interview with Annie here: Reflections on lived experience of Speaking Up: Annie's story