International Journal of Health Policy and Management

International Journal of Health Policy and Management

A Wicked Problem? Whistleblowing in Healthcare Organisations; Comment on “Cultures of Silence And Cultures of Voice: The Role of Whistleblowing in Healthcare Organisations”

Document Type : Commentary

Author
Paula Hyde
Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
10.15171/ijhpm.2016.01
Abstract
Mannion and Davies’ article recognises whistleblowing as an important means of identifying quality and safety issues in healthcare organisations. While ‘voice’ is a useful lens through which to examine whistleblowing, it also obscures a shifting pattern of uncertain ‘truths.’ By contextualising cultures which support or impede whislteblowing at an organisational level, two issues are overlooked; the power of wider institutional interests to silence those who might raise the alarm and changing ideas about what constitutes adequate care. A broader contextualisation of whistleblowing might illuminate further facets of this multi-dimensional problem.
Keywords
Whistleblowing
Healthcare Organisations
Safer Care
Truth to Power
Subjects
  1. Mannion R, Davies HTO, Cultures of silence and cultures of voice: The role of whistleblowing in healthcare organisations. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2015;4(8):503-505. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.120
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  8. Burns D, Hyde P, Killett A. Wicked problems or wicked people: reconceptualising institutional abuse. Sociol Health Illn. 2012;35(4):514-528. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2012.01511.x

 

  • Received Date 29 October 2015
  • Revised Date 05 January 2016
  • Accepted Date 05 January 2016
  • First Published Date 01 April 2016
  • Published Date 01 April 2016