Stephen Barclay MP: Gagged NHS workers 'still afraid'
The government is banning - with immediate effect - any gagging clauses in severance agreements with NHS staff in England.
The practice has been blamed for preventing whistleblowers from exposing poor care, or problems with patient safety.
It is thought staff will instead be given a new legal right to raise issues that could be in the public interest.
Speaking on the Today programme, the Conservative MP Stephen Barclay, who has been campaigning to protect whistleblowers, told presenter Sarah Montague: "This is not a new issue... the very people that we want to speak out... they're the people that are afraid and in essence are told that they won't work again in the NHS again if they do.
"Today's announcement is good, but will it apply retrospectively to those who have already signed gagging clauses and will it cover things such as judicial mediation?" he asked.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Thursday 14 March 2013.
14 Mar 2013
- From the section Health