What is speaking up?

Speaking up is about anything that gets in the way of providing good care.

"Speaking up is about when things go wrong, we need to make sure that lessons are learnt and things are improved. If we think something might go wrong, it's important that we all feel able to speak up so that potential harm is prevented. Even when things are good, but could be even better, we should feel able to say something and should expect that our suggestion is listened to and used as an opportunity for improvement. Speaking up is about all of these things". (National Guardian Office, 2020)

Why do we have FTSU?

Speaking up is about anything that gets in the way of providing good care. This was clearly seen in 2015, when Sir Robert Francis QC published his findings following his independent review into the failings at Mid Staffordshire and set out a vision for creating an open and honest reporting culture in the NHS. The National Guardian Office have launched a video explaining what speaking up is and why it is important.

Speaking up at UHD - we will listen and help

If you have a concern and you are unable to resolve it with your line manager, or if you feel you are not being listened to, the FTSU service may be for you.

The team, led by Helen Martin, offers confidential impartial, advice for anyone with concerns about patient safety or your working environment.

We will look into what you say and you will always have access to support that you need.

We'll help ensure that organisational policies and processes are in place and followed correctly. We will support you in raising a concern.

We're here for everyone.

Testimonials

Watch these videos to see how the FTSU service can help you.

Nicola's story

Shilpa's story

What sort of concerns do the FTSU team help with?

It has never been so important to speak up about patient care or your working environment. By doing this, we will ensure that we provide the best service for our patients.

A few examples include concerns relating to

• unsafe patient care
• unsafe working conditions
• inadequate induction or training for staff
• lack of, or poor, response to a reported patient safety incident
• suspicions of fraud
• A bullying culture

If you have a concern about your employment that affects only you, then this would be better suited to be addressed by one of our HR team.

Contact us to see how we can help you

When you get in touch with us, we will arrange to meet you and listen to your concern. We'll then agree together what steps we'll take next.

Get in touch:

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0300 019 4220

For more information look on the UHD intranet site.

If you would like to learn more about FTSU, then refer to the 'Speak Up, Listen Up, Follow Up' e-learning package aimed at anyone who works in healthcare. Divided into three modules, it explains in a clear and consistent way what speaking up is and its importance in creating an environment in which people are supported to deliver their best.

This training can be accessed using the BEAT catalogue on the UHD intranet site by searching Freedom to speak up: Speak Up. Once you self-register the course, it will appear on their Heart to complete.

It is encouraged that all staff complete this training to understand our core value of being open and honest.

Why do we have FTSU?

In 2015, Sir Robert Francis QC set out a vision for creating an open and honest reporting culture in the NHS following his independent review into the failings at Mid Staffordshire.

Since then the board of directors at RBCH have continuously reiterated their support for the key principles of a speaking up culture and are committed to leading the actions required to implement them and the behaviours needed to do this.

The full statement of commitment and the annual declaration can be found here.

If you as an employee speak up about a concern, the FTSU team will ensure you are protected from suffering detriment, bullying or harassment from another employee.

Our joint FTSU aim:

To develop a culture of safety within PHT and RBCH so that we become a more open and transparent place to work, where all staff are actively encouraged and enabled to speak up safely.

Welcome to UHD Voluntary Services

Welcome to the Voluntary Services web page of the University Hospital of Dorset. Our hospitals are based in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Contact information for each site is available below.