Whistleblowing Policy - FOI Response Register

1. The number of whistleblowing concerns that were reported to the board at stage 1.

Please provide the figure broken down by the last 6 calendar years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024)

Please indicate in the way you present the figures of how many of those concerns were resolved at stage 1 or were referred on to be looked at in more detail stage 2 or beyond.

The Whistleblowing Standards came into force as of 1 April 2021. 

Since then NHS Shetland has had the following numbers of concerns raised:

2021/2022 – nil concerns raised

2022/2023 – 3 concerns were received into whistleblowing inbox.  These were managed as follows:

2023/2024 – 10 concerns received into whistleblowing inbox.  These were managed as follows:

*Due to the complexity of the concerns raised in one of the Stage 2 Investigations, this required an external investigation to be commissioned. Investigation timescale is out with the 20 days standard for Whistleblowing Investigations, however, the individual was kept up to date with the progress of the Investigation and has received appropriate support from a Confidential Contact throughout this period.

Concerns raised to the Independent Whistleblowing Officer (INWO) – we are only aware of one approach made to the INWO since 2021. NHS Board has provided the information asked for, no further correspondence has been received to date.

Further details are available here – https://www.nhsshetland.scot/us/whistleblowing-annual-assurance-reports

2. The number of whistleblowing concerns that were reported to the board at stage 2.

Please provide the figure broken down by the last 6 calendar years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024)

Please indicate in the way you present the figures of how many of those concerns were resolved at stage 2 or were referred on to be looked at by being referred to the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer.

See above

3. The number of whistleblowing concerns that were referred to the Independent National Whistleblowing Officer.

Please provide the figure broken down by the last 6 calendar years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024) 

Please indicate in the way you present the figures of how many were considered resolved or upheld at that stage and how many were not (I am not sure what the terminology would be, unresolved perhaps?)

See above