Primary Care Providers
All primary care providers and contracted services are required to have a procedure in place that meets with the requirements of the National Whistleblowing Standards. This means that any organisation delivering NHS services, whether it is a private company, a third sector organisation or a primary care provider, has the same requirement to ensure access to a procedure in line with the Standards. This includes third sector organisations providing services on behalf of NHS Scotland and private companies under contract with NHS Scotland, including maintenance and domiciliary services.
All those delivering NHS services must be able to raise concerns about NHS services, and must have access to the support they need to do so. Access to the Standards must be available to:
• anyone who works directly for these services
• anyone working for another organisation, but within these services, such as district nurses, agency staff, students/trainees and volunteers.
If the individual is raising a concern about a service that is not their employer (such as a district nurse working in a GP service or a locum pharmacist working for an agency) then they must be able to raise concerns either directly with their employer or within the service itself, including full access to the Standards.
All those delivering NHS services must be able to raise concerns about NHS services, and must have access to the support they need to do so. Access to the Standards must be available to:
• anyone who works directly for these services
• anyone working for another organisation, but within these services, such as district nurses, agency staff, students/trainees and volunteers.
If the individual is raising a concern about a service that is not their employer (such as a district nurse working in a GP service or a locum pharmacist working for an agency) then they must be able to raise concerns either directly with their employer or within the service itself, including full access to the Standards.
Support
There is a requirement for boards to have in place a confidential contact for primary care and contracted providers who can provide information and advice to anyone considering raising a concern in this sector. NHS Tayside has two confidential contacts fulfilling this role and their details are included within the NHS Tayside’s Confidential Contacts section of these webpages.
Training
Training is available which provides more information about the National Whistleblowing Standards and the role of the INWO. Further details, including how to access the learning modules is available here.