Raising concerns

Question 1

Raising concerns

Answer 1

Every pharmacy professional has a duty to raise any concerns about individuals, actions or circumstances that may be unacceptable and could pose a risk to patient care and public safety.

Question 2

Importance of raising concerns

Answer 2

• Protect the wellbeing/prevent harm of people receiving care and the public.
• Allows identification of areas of practice that can be improved.
• Failure to raise concerns would be a breach of the Standards for Pharmacy Professionals: speaking up about concerns

Question 3

Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998
(PIDA)

Answer 3

• Protects employees who raise genuine concerns and expose ‘malpractice’ in the workplace.
• Does not cover those who are self-employed e.g. locums, or students and volunteers.
• Levels of protection will depend on how the concern was reported - confidentially or anonymously
  e.g. confidentially = details will only be provided if you consent.

Question 4

PIDA - What should pharmacy professionals report?

Answer 4

• Poses a danger to the health or safety of an individual (e.g. irresponsible or illegal prescribing)
• Crime, or a civil offence (e.g. fraud, theft or the illegal diversion of drugs)
• Miscarriage of justice
• Damage to the environment
• Cover-up of information about any of the above

Question 5

Reluctancy to raise concerns

Answer 5

• Cause trouble for their colleagues
• Negative impact on their career
• Difficult working relationships with their colleagues
• They could face reprisals
• Nothing will be done as a result of the concern being raised

Question 6

How to raise concerns

Answer 6

• Check employers policy (‘whistleblowing’).
• Report to immediate supervisor (usually first approach)
• Report to another suitable person in authority/outside body (situations where they cannot report to line manager)
• Keep a record
• Maintain confidentiality

Question 7

Employers role in raising concerns

Answer 7

Employers must:
- Have fair, robust policies/procedures.
- Ensure all policies are accessible to employees.
- Encourage all staff to raise concerns.
- Take all concerns seriously/investigate them.
- Keep staff informed of progress.
- Support employees who have raised concerns
- Maintain confidence.
- Keep records of any concerns raised.

Question 8

Whistleblowing Disclosure

Answer 8

GPhC publishes an annual report on the whistle blowing disclosures made to them by workers