AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/glossary/whistleblowing
Whistleblowing
Raising concerns, speaking up
Whistleblowing is reporting wrongdoing or a risk to patients at work.
Summary
- In the NHS it is usually called raising concerns or speaking up.
- The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects workers who do it from being dismissed or penalised.
- Doctors have a professional duty to raise concerns about patient safety.
- NHS trusts in England are expected to have a Freedom to Speak Up Guardian, a role that came out of the Francis review of 2015.
In practice
- In the Lucy Letby case, consultants on the neonatal unit first raised concerns about her in 2015.
- The Thirlwall Inquiry's report of 15 September 2026 found that the doctors who spoke up were themselves investigated after she filed a grievance, and consultants were told to apologise to her.
Interview questions
- You are worried that a senior colleague is putting patients at risk. What do you do?
- Why do some staff stay silent when they see poor care?
- What do you know about the consultants who raised concerns about Lucy Letby?
Sources
- NHS Englandengland.nhs.uk/…/freedom-to-speak-up
- Nursing Timesnursingtimes.net/…/thirlwall-inquiry-letby-hospital-failed-completely-in-preven
- Thirlwall Inquirythirlwall.public-inquiry.uk/…/inquiry-report-finds-profound-failure-of-management-governan
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.