 |
 |
 |
 |
Whistle blowing nurse given parliamentary support
May 7, 2009 4:34 PM
Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam and long-time champion of older people's rights, is continuing to campaign for nurse Margaret Haywood to be reinstated by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Ms Haywood was struck off after filming the abuse and neglect of older people at the Royal Sussex Hospital, despite subsequently receiving the consent of all those in her footage.
During question time last week Mr Burstow brought the case to the attention of Cabinet Minister Harriet Harman MP and highlighted the need for a debate on whistle-blowing practices, as well as the wider plight of vulnerable older people who are not protected by legislation in the same way as children, or even animals, are.
Mr Burstow has tabled a parliamentary motion in support of Ms Haywood's actions which called for her to be reinstated, as well as greater protection to be given to whistleblowers across the NHS.
Commenting Mr Burstow said:
'Margaret Haywood's case raises some serious issues because it appears she is being punished for blowing the whistle on neglect and cruelty.
'Over 38,000 people have signed the e-petition backing Margaret Haywood demonstrating how many people feel that whistle blowing was Margaret's only option to protect the patients who she cared about.
'We have to ask how many more tragedies, not just in hospitals but in the community and people's homes, before our vulnerable older people are given protection from the law. Our children, and even our animals have their own protection laws, but it is high time that the vulnerable and frail had the dame safeguards in law.'
What would you like to do next?
-
Subscribe for updates
Follow the party's activity on...
- Twitter:
- Liberal Democrats
- Facebook:
- Liberal Democrats
- YouTube:
- Liberal Democrats