AMBULANCE workers in East Lancashire have been urged to blow the whistle on any 'dodgy' colleagues - to try to prevent a major disaster.

Managers at Lancashire Ambulance Service believe many catastrophes could be prevented if staff who knew about the dangers had spoken out beforehand.

The new policy will also aim to protect whistleblowers against victimisation.

Peter Cooney, director of human resources for Lancashire Ambulance NHS Trust, said: "Almost every public inquiry into disasters, catastrophes and scandals has found that workers have been aware of dangers in the workplace or malpractice.

"Too often, for whatever reason, they have chosen not to blow the whistle or their concerns have fallen on deaf ears. "Time and again it appears that major disasters could, and should, have been prevented if only those employees who knew about the dangers had spoken up.

"Looking at it from the employees' point of view they are faced with a dilemma: Do they stay silent and ignore what is happening, or blow the whistle and risk facing retribution from their employer or colleagues?

"It is hardly surprising that so many have chosen to remain silent."

"The message must be clear - victimisation for whistle-blowing will not be tolerated and reporting malpractice is not just acceptable, it is encouraged."

He said the new Public Interest Disclosure Policy would try to strike a balance between the public interest in having malpractice uncovered and the interest of employers in maintaining confidentiality.

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