Treatment of NHS whistleblower's 'truly shocking', report finds

Legislation on whistleblowers will be fast-tracked in response to a major report into how thousands of NHS staff have been been bullied by colleagues after raising concerns about patient care, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.

The review, lead by Sir Robert Francis QC, found some NHS staff were driven to the brink of suicide after voicing their concerns.

ITV News Political Correspondent Libby Wiener reports:

A former nurse who helped lead the fight against shocking failings at Stafford Hospital told ITV News she "wasn't surprised" by the findings of a report into the treatment of NHS whistleblowers.

Helene Donnelly was a key witness in the Mid Staffordshire public inquiry and has recently been appointed as Ambassador for Cultural Change at the local NHS Trust.

Donnelly said: "It stands to reason that if I've experienced it in my Trust and I know of others who have as well, that there are going to be others who have suffered in the same way.

"All members of staff working in the NHS and social care have a duty to speak out if they see things that are not right, and we must create a culture where they can do that and feel safe."

The shadow health secretary has called for the recommendations on NHS whistleblowers to apply equally to social care.

Andy Burnham called it a "major concern" that social care was not covered by the Francis review.

Burnham told MPs, "It could be argued some of the poorest care being provided in England today is in social care settings, or indeed in people's own homes."

The government is "calling time on bullying, intimidation and victimisation" in the NHS, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has told MPs.

ITV News Health Editor Rachel Younger reports:

ITV News Health Editor Rachel Younger reports following the release of the Freedom to Speak Up review:

The government will legislate to protect whistleblowers who apply for NHS jobs from discrimination by prospective employers, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced.

Hunt said he would accept the Francis review's recommendation in principle and then consult on a package of measures to implement them.

Jeremy Hunt has announced his response to a report into the treatment of NHS whistleblowers.

You can re-watch the Health Secretary's statement here:

• Read: Treatment of NHS whistleblowers 'truly shocking'

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said "significant changes" have been made to make the NHS more transparent since the Mid Staffordshire scandal, but stressed that "more needs to be done".

Hunt tweeted this diagram yesterday ahead of the NHS whistleblower review being published:

"We agree with Sir Robert [Francis QC] that listening to patients and staff is absolutely vital and will be responding to this report later today," Hunt added.