This book appeared in my amazon suggestions the other evening and was so ordered to go into my reading pile. However when it arrived as I often do I skimmed the first few pages and was trapped. I sat down yesterday and read unable to put the book down.
As a vet on the new graduate scheme a lot of our professional skills sessions were spent on looking at errors, mistakes and how to learn from them. Importantly a lot of time was spent learning how to analyse them to identify the causes, and how to try and prevent them from happening again. How to encourage a learning culture where we accept that we will make mistakes, and aim to improve and learn from them.
Peter Duffy however found himself in a very different culture, one where mistakes were ignored, covered up, and the coroner was ignored. Where reporting a mistake had him labelled as a racist. Where reporting mistakes internally made money mysteriously disappear from his pay check. And where eventually reporting an unnecessary death cost him his job.
This is the nightmare situation of a highly qualified consultant surgeon within the NHS being silenced and forced out for standing up for his patients. Where the stress of it all caused health problems, and a forced resignation.
Then the reality of the employment tribunal laid bare, and how the laws set up to protect whistleblowing fail when faced with the might of the NHS management. How intimidation and bullying tactics are used to silence those that attempt to raise concerns.
This book is essential reading for anyone in healthcare, especially those considering medical roles.
