Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has banned the insertion of “gagging clauses” in severance contracts for NHS staff, the Daily Mail reported on Thursday.
The move, which takes immediate effect, comes amid calls for more transparency within the service following the Stafford Hospital report.
The document revealed how staff, managers and professional bodies had all failed to expose the appalling neglect of mostly elderly patients over three years, which saw them denied the most basic care and attention.
Hunt told the Mail that “the era of gagging NHS staff from raising their real worries about patient care” must end.
Hunt has already warned all English NHS trusts not to gag whistle-blowers who expose bad practice.
He sent a letter to health bosses after learning that former NHS manager Gary Walker received a legal warning after revealing how he was forced to keep quiet about his dismissal and his fears for patient safety.
“There has been a culture where people felt if you speak up about problems in the NHS you didn’t love the NHS. Actually it’s exactly the opposite,” Hunt told the Mail.
“Mid Staffs happened because there was a culture of covering up problems,” he added.
Gov't bans NHS gagging contracts
