Ellis, J.S., Bateman, H., Thomason, J.M., Whitworth, J. (2015) Concerns about raising concerns. Medical Education, 49: 514-515.

This short article outlines how the School of Dental Sciences responded to the recommendations of the 2013 Mid-Staffordshire National Health Service Foundation Trust Public Enquiry (Francis Report), and what we have learned during the process.
The key focus with respect to raising concerns was to establish a programme of activity and a system of management which encourages openness on behalf of our students and ensures appropriate action to properly address concerns relating to patient safety.
A summary of the range of activities we implemented is described, together with the general approach engendered by the School.  Our experience is that there has been a significant increase in the number of students raising concerns, all of these require proportionate, prompt and sympathetic follow-up.
We found that the resource implications for curriculum modification and delivery of the initial programme of activity was relatively minor, but that there were significant staff resource implications in following up concerns and a need to form supportive pathways to external links.

Heidi Bateman, School of Dental Sciences