About-face on Whistleblowing

Back in 2009, the Nursing & Midwifery Council struck off a care nurse, Margaret Haywood, who four years before had blown the whistle on neglect and abuse of vulnerable elderly residents in a care home. She was struck off for life for breaching her professional code of conduct, having gone undercover to help Panorama produce a programme exposing the home.

Radio 4's Jenni Murray had written in The Guardian protesting, and there was apparently a massive public response. In late 2009, following the Royal College of Nursing's appeal against the decision, the NMC effectively apologised and reinstated her.

This week, The Independent reports chairman of the government's Health Select Committee Stephen Dorrell as saying he wants the regulators to show "real leadership" in changing the culture to ensure whistleblowing is seen as a professional obligation and not a choice!

I hope Margaret Haywood feels her four years of misery were worth it, and wanted to post this blog as a tribute. Now, more than ever, when the fat-cat-induced cuts are slashing resources for the care of the most vulnerable, we need all the whistleblowers we can get.