Margaret Haywood gets health minister support in whistleblowing debate

Published: 07 May 2009

RCN member, Margaret Haywood, who was removed from the Nursing and Midwifery register for failing to "follow her obligations as a nurse" after she filmed at a hospital for a BBC Panorama programme, has received support from the Health Minister, Ben Bradshaw in an Westminster Hall debate on whistleblowing.

RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said:

"The decision to remove Margaret from the professional register was unduly harsh and we are considering making an appeal."

Mr Bradshaw said that the agreed with the RCN position on the case, saying:

"It is still open to Mrs. Haywood to appeal to the High Court against the decision. Her union, the Royal College of Nursing, has said that it will support her in any appeal and has made it clear that it thinks that, given the range of sanctions available, the decision to strike Mrs. Haywood off was unduly harsh. Having studied the report myself, and having considered the wider implications of the ruling on our whistleblowing policy, I have to say that I agree with the RCN's position".

In the same debate, Dr Richard Taylor, who called the debate, also mentioned the RCN petition in support of Ms Haywood and quoted from the RCN dignity survey report.