Safe care is everyone’s business. If you see poor care or feel prevented from providing safe, compassionate care you should raise concerns. You can start by reading your employer’s policy on raising concerns and familiarise yourself with their process.
Raising and responding to concerns is something that we should all feel confident and safe to do. We know that being able to speak out is not always easy, but it is the right thing to do. Here at the RCN, we have developed a guide to help you assess and decide when to raise a concern and when to escalate your concerns. The guide supports you through the process of raising and reporting your concerns both informally, and more formally.
The resource answers the questions you might have about raising a concern, including around confidentiality, the support you should receive, and what to expect when you raise a concern. The guide also includes advice for managers on what to do when a concern has been raised and promoting a culture of safety.
The Code (NMC 2018) states that you have a duty to ‘act without delay if you believe that there is a risk to patient safety or public protection’.
The NMC has produced guidance on raising concerns, including a training toolkit. Visit the NMC website to read the guidance.