The NHS Scotland Confidential Alert Line has been replaced by Whistleblowing Alert and Advice Services for NHSScotland (AALS). This service is about giving staff the confidence to raise any concerns they may have about patient safety or malpractice.

Sir Robert Francis, in his Freedom to Speak Up Review said, ‘‘We need to get away from a culture of blame, and the fear that it generates, to one which celebrates openness and commitment to safety and improvement’’.

We agree. Your concerns should be listened to, taken seriously, and acted upon. After all, patient safety is paramount.

Our staff are our ‘eyes and ears’ and you can help highlight things you genuinely feel aren’t right that affect patients, other staff or the organisation itself.

We hope you would feel able to raise concerns about serious malpractice with your line manager or designated whistleblowing contact.

Advice and support is also available from AALS on 0800 008 6112. This service is run by Public Concern at Work, an independent whistleblowing charity whose expertise in this field is recognised internationally.

Legally trained advisers are there to help you consider your options if you are unsure about how, or whether to whistleblow. AALS advisers can also pass your concerns  (with your consent) to the appropriate person in the Health Board or to a scrutiny body for further investigation.