'Speaking Up' for patient safety and staff well-being:: a qualitative study

Rebecca Delpino; Liz Lees-Deutsch; Bhawna Solanki

doi:10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002047

'Speaking Up' for patient safety and staff well-being: a qualitative study

Rebecca Delpino, Liz Lees-Deutsch, Bhawna Solanki

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

659 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background Freedom To Speak Up Guardians (FTSUGs) and Confidential Contacts (CCs) were appointed nationally following the Mid Staffordshire inquiry to listen to and support staff who were unable to address concerns through normal channels of communication. Aim Explore perceptions of an FTSUG and CCs through shared experiences and personal stories. Objectives (1) Explore perceptions of an FTSUG and CCs. (2) Consider how individuals can be best supported. (3) Improve staff knowledge on speaking up. (4) Understand factors influencing reflections around patient safety. (5) Share exemplars of good practice through use of personal stories to promote a culture of openness to raise concerns. Method A focus group of eight participants, namely the FTSUG and CCs working within one large National Health Service (NHS) trust, was used to gather data. Data were collated and organised using a created table. Thematic analysis enabled each theme to emerge and be identified. Conclusion (1) An innovative approach to the introduction, development and implementation of an FTSUG and CC roles and responsibilities in healthcare. (2) To gain insight into the personal experiences of a FTSUG and CCs working within one large NHS trust. (3) To be supportive of culture change with committed leadership responsiveness.

Original language	English
Article number	e002047
Number of pages	9
Journal	BMJ Open Quality
Volume	12
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002047
Publication status	Published - 17 May 2023

Bibliographical note

This is an open access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited, appropriate credit is given, any changes made indicated, and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/.

Funder

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) Education Funding, University Hospitals Birmingham, UK.

Keywords

leadership
patient safety
qualitative research
safety culture
whistleblowing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Health Policy
Leadership and Management

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjoq-2022-002047Licence: CC BY-NC

PublishedFinal published version, 656 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

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abstract = "Background Freedom To Speak Up Guardians (FTSUGs) and Confidential Contacts (CCs) were appointed nationally following the Mid Staffordshire inquiry to listen to and support staff who were unable to address concerns through normal channels of communication. Aim Explore perceptions of an FTSUG and CCs through shared experiences and personal stories. Objectives (1) Explore perceptions of an FTSUG and CCs. (2) Consider how individuals can be best supported. (3) Improve staff knowledge on speaking up. (4) Understand factors influencing reflections around patient safety. (5) Share exemplars of good practice through use of personal stories to promote a culture of openness to raise concerns. Method A focus group of eight participants, namely the FTSUG and CCs working within one large National Health Service (NHS) trust, was used to gather data. Data were collated and organised using a created table. Thematic analysis enabled each theme to emerge and be identified. Conclusion (1) An innovative approach to the introduction, development and implementation of an FTSUG and CC roles and responsibilities in healthcare. (2) To gain insight into the personal experiences of a FTSUG and CCs working within one large NHS trust. (3) To be supportive of culture change with committed leadership responsiveness.",

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