This course explains your professional duty to raise concerns about patient safety and wrongdoing, how to raise a concern well, and where to go if your concern is not dealt with. It covers Freedom to Speak Up Guardians, the legal protections for whistleblowers, and what to do if you have been criticised for failing to raise a concern, or for the way you raised one.
What you will learn
- Explain the professional duty to raise and act on concerns as set out by the GMC, NMC, HCPC and GPhC.
- Recognise situations that should be raised as a concern, and distinguish a concern about patient safety from a personal grievance.
- Raise a concern in a clear, factual and timely way, using the right route and escalating appropriately if it is not addressed.
- Describe the role of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and the main legal protections under the Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998.
- Respond appropriately as a manager or senior colleague when someone raises a concern with you.
- Write a reflection that shows insight into a missed or poorly raised concern, with a practical action plan.
Course content
- Why raising concerns matters (3 min)
- Your professional duty (3 min)
- How to raise a concern well (4 min)
- Freedom to Speak Up Guardians and the national policy (2 min)
- Legal protections for people who speak up (2 min)
- Why concerns are not raised, and how to respond when someone speaks up (2 min)
- Case study, regulator expectations and your action plan (4 min)
- Knowledge check (10 questions, 10 min)
- Guided reflection (15 min)
Standards and guidance covered
- GMC: Good Medical Practice (2024) and Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety
- NMC: The Code (2015, updated 2018), including the duty to raise concerns immediately if patient safety is at risk, and NMC guidance on raising concerns
- HCPC: Standards of conduct, performance and ethics (2024), including the standard on reporting concerns about safety
- GPhC: Standards for pharmacy professionals (2017), including the standard on speaking up when things go wrong
- NHS England: the national Freedom to Speak Up policy for the NHS
- Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 (which amended the Employment Rights Act 1996)
- GMC and NMC: Openness and honesty when things go wrong: the professional duty of candour
Certificate
Courses are free to study. When you pass the knowledge check (80%) and complete your reflection, you can buy a verified certificate showing your CPD time, with a unique ID and QR code that anyone can check on our verification page.
Study free at your own pace on any device.
Practitioner Insight is an independent education provider. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the GMC, MPTS, NMC, HCPC, GPhC or any NHS organisation, and this information is not legal advice. If you have been referred to a regulator, speak to your defence organisation, trade union or legal representative.