Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, in what way he plans to protect NHS whistleblowers, following the closure of the National Guardian's Office.

Dr Dash’s review of patient safety across the health and care landscape was published in July 2025. The review’s recommendations aim to streamline, simplify, and consolidate functions across the patient safety landscape by removing duplication and overlap.

The review specifically recommends that staff voice functions should be strengthened, by incorporating the responsibilities of the National Guardian’s Office directly into the new Department of Health and Social Care structure and providers. The network of Freedom to Speak Up Guardians will continue. These changes reinforce our commitment to ensuring that National Health Service staff have the confidence to come forward and speak out if they have concerns.