Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) is about encouraging a positive culture where people working in the NHS feel they can speak up and their voices will be heard, and their suggestions acted upon. Speaking up is about anything that gets in the way of providing good care.
FTSU is for all NHS workers - anyone who works in NHS healthcare, including pharmacy, optometry, and dentistry. This encompasses any healthcare professionals, non-clinical workers, administrative workers, directors, managers, contractors, volunteers, students, trainees, junior doctors, locum, bank and agency workers and former workers.
Speaking up can be about anything which doesn’t feel right, for example, a way of working or a process that isn’t being followed, witnessing or experiencing discrimination or poor behaviours or actions. Speaking up captures a range of issues, some of which may be appropriate for other existing processes, for example, HR or patient safety or quality. If in doubt, please speak up. It does not matter if the incident or concern is as the result of a misunderstanding or if there is an innocent explanation for the matters that are raised. As an organisation, we will listen and work together to identify the most appropriate way of responding to the issues raised.
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust / Isle of Wight NHS Trust have an independent Freedom to Speak Up service available for all staff to access 24 hours/day. The details for this service can be accessed on our staff intranet sites: