Professor Jane Somerville, emeritus professor of cardiology at Imperial College, talks about the issues facing doctors who raise concerns about patient safety issues in the NHS. She shares her views on the risks facing doctors who speak up and the ways that healthcare managers treat whistleblowers. She also highlights issues in the employment tribunal system and outlines the need to regulate NHS managers.
Before her retirement, Jane was a consultant paediatric cardiologist at the Royal Brompton. She is known for defining the subspecialty of grown ups with congenital heart disease (GUCH) and was also the cardiologist involved in the UK's first heart transplant in 1968.
Please note: In the video, Jane mentions the employment tribunal of Dr Martyn Pitman. Since this interview was recorded, Dr Pitman lost the case he brought for retaliatory victimisation.
Chapters:
01:39 How are you supporting the work to protect doctors who speak up?
02:41 Why aren’t existing systems in the NHS protecting doctors who speak up for patient safety?
05:15 How widespread are the issues facing NHS whistleblowers?
06:32 What needs to be done to protect doctors who speak up for patient safety?
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