1.1. NHS Portsmouth Clinical Commissioning Group (“The CCG”) are committed to conducting business with honesty and integrity and expect all staff to maintain high standards, in accordance with our values and HR framework. However, all organisations face the risk of things going wrong from time to time, or of unknowingly harbouring illegal or unethical conduct. A culture of openness and accountability is therefore essential in order to prevent such situations occurring or to address them when they do occur.
1.2. The recommendations of “Freedom to Speak Up”, the independent review commissioned by the Secretary of State and chaired by Sir Robert Francis QC into whistleblowing in the NHS were published in 2015. The purpose of the review was to provide independent advice and recommendations on creating a more open and honest reporting culture in the NHS.
The review recommended a ‘standard integrated policy’, aimed at improving the experience of whistleblowing and creating an open and honest reporting culture in the NHS.
1.3. The Portsmouth CCG local process has been integrated into the NHS standard integrated policy resulting in this CCG policy – “Whistleblowing Policy – Freedom to Speak Up”.