Raising a concern
Whistleblowing in healthcare
Who to tell first, from a manager to a regulator, and what each channel can do with your concern.
Speaking up and whistleblowing
Whistleblowing and speaking up in healthcare
Guides for healthcare staff raising a concern about patient safety or wrongdoing, dealing with an NDA, or facing poor treatment after speaking up.
A grievance about your own treatment, a patient-safety report and a protected disclosure follow different processes and carry different protection. Pharma Mate sets out each one with the UK rule and where to get advice. If a patient is at immediate risk, use your clinical escalation process or call 999 first.
Where this applies
Whistleblowing law in England, Wales and Scotland sits in the Employment Rights Act 1996. Northern Ireland has equivalent law under the Public Interest Disclosure (Northern Ireland) Order 1998, with industrial tribunals and the Labour Relations Agency. See nidirect whistleblowing guidance (opens another website). NHS staff in Scotland can also take unresolved concerns to the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer. General information, not legal advice.
Short answer
If you are a worker and you report wrongdoing such as a danger to patient safety, and you reasonably believe the report is in the public interest, the law protects you from detriment and dismissal. Raise the concern with your employer, a Freedom to Speak Up guardian in England, or a prescribed body such as the GPhC, GMC or NMC. No NDA can stop a protected disclosure.
Key facts
- Who is protected
- Workers, including employees, agency workers, trainees such as student nurses, and NHS staff
- What counts
- Crime, danger to health or safety, breach of a legal obligation, a cover-up and, since 6 April 2026, sexual harassment
- Public interest
- You must reasonably believe the disclosure is in the public interest
- NDAs
- A clause is void so far as the clause tries to stop a protected disclosure
- Dismissal
- Automatically unfair, with no minimum service and no cap on compensation
- Time limit
- Six months less one day for acts on or after 1 October 2026 (Great Britain)
Raising a concern
Raising a concern
Protected disclosures: questions to ask an adviser
The legal tests a disclosure must meet before whistleblowing protection applies.
Raising a concern
Raising patient-safety concerns
How to report an unsafe practice, error or near miss through clinical and workplace processes.
Raising a concern
Patient confidentiality when speaking up
Raise a safety concern while keeping to GPhC, GMC and NMC duties on patient information.
Raising a concern
Freedom to Speak Up guardians
How guardians in England support staff who want to raise a concern.
After you speak up
After speaking up
If you are treated badly after speaking up
Detriment and dismissal for whistleblowing are unlawful, and dismissal claims need no minimum service.
After speaking up
Keeping safe records of workplace concerns
What to write down, and why patient records and confidential files stay on work systems.
After speaking up
Employment tribunal time limits
Six months less one day for most problems on or after 1 October 2026, with Acas notified first.
After speaking up
Prepare for employment or whistleblowing advice
A timeline, a document list and the questions to ask Protect, a union or a solicitor.
After speaking up
Professional investigations
Support during an employer investigation or a regulator fitness to practise process.
NDAs and confidentiality clauses
NDAs
NDAs in healthcare: what a clause cannot stop
An NDA cannot stop whistleblowing or reporting a crime, whatever the wording says.
NDAs
Stress while living with an NDA
Who you can still talk to and how to get health support without describing confidential events.
NDAs
Pressure to sign a contract or NDA
How to ask for time and advice before you sign a confidentiality clause.
NDAs
Settlement agreements for healthcare staff
Confidentiality terms in a settlement agreement, and the independent advice you must receive first.
When the concern is weighing on you
Stress and support
Moral distress
When you cannot act on what you believe is right for patients.
Stress and support
Commercial pressure and clinical judgement
Targets and sales pressure which conflict with patient care.
Stress and support
Pressure to prescribe
Requests to prescribe against your clinical judgement, and who can support you.
Stress and support
Bullying and harassment
Options when the problem is how colleagues or managers treat you.
Stress and support
Fear of seeking help
Worries about confidentiality, registration and reputation when asking for support.
Whistleblowing advice and speaking-up contacts
Protect whistleblowing advice
Free, confidential advice on how and where to raise a concern about wrongdoing at work. Advice line 020 3117 2520.
Protect advises callers. Protect does not investigate concerns, review documents or represent callers at tribunal.
Freedom to Speak Up: finding a guardian
Freedom to Speak Up Guardians continue in NHS organisations in England. NHS England took over national support from 1 July 2026, after the National Guardian's Office closed.
Ask your organisation how to contact the guardian and how the guardian handles confidentiality. A guardian supports speaking up and does not give legal advice.
Regulators accept concerns as prescribed persons. GOV.UK publishes the list of prescribed people and bodies (opens another website). For contracts and restrictions, see our contracts guides. For every rights topic in one place, see workplace rights and wellbeing.
Some campaign groups work on protection for staff who raise concerns. Doctors' Association UK (DAUK) (opens another website) campaigns for stronger whistleblowing law and has backed calls for an Independent Office for the Whistleblower. For advice on your own concern, contact Protect or your union. See more campaign and advocacy groups for healthcare staff.
Common questions
Am I protected if I report a patient-safety concern?
Usually, yes. A worker who reports a danger to health or safety, reasonably believing the report is in the public interest, is protected from detriment and dismissal.
Who should I raise a whistleblowing concern with?
Start with your employer, through a manager or a Freedom to Speak Up guardian in England. You can also go to a prescribed body such as your regulator. Protect gives free advice on the best option.
Can an NDA stop me reporting a concern?
No. Any clause between a worker and employer is void so far as the clause tries to stop a protected disclosure.
What if I am treated badly after whistleblowing?
Record each change, get advice from Protect or your union, and notify Acas within the time limit if you want to bring a claim.