THE WHISTLEBLOWERS BLAST event – MacDonald Hotel, Holyrood – Wed 19th June 7.30-9.30pm. For MSPs, the media, the public
UPDATE 21st July- the video of the event is available here www.tinyurl.com/blastvid
To find out about the campaign to date and where things go from here, click here
The BLAST EVENT
We have a number of NHS doctors, nurses and admin staff lined up who want to report how they have suffered for blowing the whistle on dangerous and bullying practices.
We anticipate good media coverage for these whistleblowers have never before been given a collective voice. Depute Convener of Health Committee Emma Harper MSP has committed to attend, as has Alex Neil, the Health Minister who introduced the current helpline in 2013. Staff have derided this as useless and want a hotline instead. A helpline simply advises you to go to your manager; a hotline takes the problem, investigates it, and presents it on your behalf to the people at the top.
This 20-minute video from two of the whistleblowers explains more youtu.be/mmJXGyu8vmU
See the event flyer with hyperlinks here. To see who is blowing the whistle at the WB Blast and how the hotline would work click here
When the Parliamentary Petition for the Hotline was launched in March 2016, it was signed by these MSPs: Alison Johnstone, Andy Wightman, Jeremy Balfour, Kezia Dugdale, Sarah Boyack
Whilst the BMA, RCN and Unison refuse to support the hotline, the GMB and UNITE local branches are in favour; on 8th December 2018 Edinburgh & Lothian branch of the GMB passed this motion in favour; in March 2016, Unite Lothian NHS branch also declared support and donated £495 towards the cost of promoting the petition.
The 2016 Petition for the hotline was also supported by The UK Patients Association , by Action for a Safe and Accountable People’s NHS, the Scotland Patients Association and Accountability Scotland
Trusts in England using a hotline include Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Camden and Islington NHS Foundation Trust – see here their 3-minute video showing how a hotline works in action from their provider Safecall.
If you want to read up on how the campaign got to this point, click here
Ticketing
Entrance by ticket only. If you want a ticket, please register your interest here. We are holding the event in the Macdonald Holyrood hotel , just a minute’s walk from Parliament (see map here ) on 19 June 7.30-9.30pm.
The event is aimed at MSPs, whistleblowers, political activists, health staff and the press. It will seat 90 people (in a cabaret style) and is primarily aimed at MSPs. We would welcome political activists, in particular, to attend too, as the hotline is supported by the Health Committee but not the Government. We need political pressure now, to make the hotline a reality.
It would be appreciated if those booking consider making a donation to event costs. Donate at www.gofundme.com/whistleblower-blast
See this event on Facebook here
The event organiser, Pete Gregson, giving Nurse Danny a flyer outside the the RCN Congress just after he had been ejected.