THE right of National Health Service workers to "blow the whistle" when they are concerned about the treatment of patients seems fair.

The move follows a Government call for an improved climate of openness in the NHS so that concerns can be voiced without fear of victimisation.

But will it work in reality? It would be a very brave nurse who complained about the work of a consultant.

Free speech is a jealously guarded right in this country. We will have to wait and see whether this scheme will work in practice.

But while the NHS guidelines allow staff to consult trade unions and seek guidance from local MPs they draw the line at disclosing their concerns to the media.

So much for free speech and a new climate.

There have been many occasions when the media's role of watchdog has served the public well. If things are wrong, even within the NHS, people should be allowed to blow their whistles.

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