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Margaret McCartney: Can junior doctors feel safe to blow the whistle?

BMJ 2016; 354 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i4215 (Published 01 August 2016) Cite this as: BMJ 2016;354:i4215
HEE have made a statement confirming that there is a need for whistleblowing protection in relation to junior doctors relationship with them. For an update to this article, please read this rapid response.

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Update

HEE have made a statement confirming that there is a need for whistleblowing protection in relation to junior doctors relationship with them https://hee.nhs.uk/news-events/news/hee-extends-whistleblowing-protectio.... However, there is detail lacking on whether this will be sufficient to protect a doctor’s career. For example, the protection will be in the contract between the Trusts and junior doctors, and the Trusts will only be liable to compensate doctors for the limited time they are with them. It seems it is only this, and not the longer term career relationship, that will be protected. Tim Johnson, the solicitor acting for Day, said full protection would require a change to the Employment Rights Act, which is not, apparently, being proposed.

This information will be incorporated in the print version next week.

Competing interests: No competing interests

12 August 2016
margaret mccartney
GP
BMJ
c/o BMJ