The review, called Supporting nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students to raise concerns with the quality of care [PDF], was carried out by the University on behalf of the Council of Deans of Health.

The review showed that although the healthcare landscape encouraged the raising of concerns and whistleblowing among permanent staff and students, particularly in light of the Francis Report in 2013*, there was a lack of clarity around who students should raise their concerns with.

In addition, the review indicated that students who raised concerns may be placing themselves at risk of having unsatisfactory learning experiences and of being victimised by staff assessing them.

The University’s Senior Lecturer in Patient Safety and project lead Frank Milligan said: “We have a more open culture now in healthcare, a culture that is becoming more supportive of those staff and students who raise concerns with the quality of healthcare practice.

“It is clear that there is an increasing expectation on students to raise concerns with the quality of practice, yet many students are concerned that doing this might adversely affect assessments of their performance by clinicians.”

The review also recommended that more research should be carried out in the area.

“Educational staff need to work harder now to assist students in understanding what legitimate concerns with practice are, and help them differentiate these from the risks that patients or clients might have to face with some of the care and treatment they go through,” said Mr Milligan.

The authors of the report are:

• Frank Milligan, Senior Lecturer in Patient Safety (Project Lead)
• Dr Mark Wareing, Director of Practice Learning
• Professor Michael Preston-Shoot, Executive Dean, Faculty of Health and Social Sciences
• Dr Yannis Pappas, Head of PhD School and Senior Lecturer in Health Services Research
• Professor Gurch Randhawa, Professor of Diversity and Public Health, Institute of Health Research
• Janine Bhandol, Academic Liaison Librarian

* The Francis report was published in 2013 and revealed severe failings in patient care and safety in Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust between January 2005 and March 2009. Find out more about the report here