I recently made a formal complaint about someone I work with who failed to complete essential checks. I can't overstate how important these checks are. I work in an operating theatre department in a major hospital, imagine! As far as I can tell nothing is being done about it I am considering reporting this person to the NMC. They put patients and colleagues at unnecessary risk for no reason that I can understand. What would you do?
Keep evidence of your reports of unsatisfactory working practice,what they were, who they were reported to and when. Then continue to complain and keep records, and then make it plain that if nothing is done and there is an incident YOU WILL go over their heads, report all of them and make it public that have done so and like wise will make it all public if retribution is taken against you.
It takes time....if they are doing anything it may be investigative so that when they fire the person they have unassailable evidence.
If you find out that indeed they are doing nothing, it qualifies as a cover-up and you should go higher, like to the Accreditations Board.
Make sure you document it yourself. Keep a notebook on the times and dates of the missed checks, and also document the times you make a formal complaint. If at all possible, keep a copy of the complaint. That way, if there is an incident you have evidence of your due dilligence and hopefully you won't be caught up in the aftermath.
Take it as high as you have to and don't back down..I work with explosives and fighter aircraft..For a little while j was doing it in the Navy and on more than one occasion I had to butt heads with people who were higher ranked then me..But damnit I was right and at the end of the day they had no leg to stand on.
When I go in to OHSU to make sure my leukemia is still gone, they go through all kinds of checks and rechecks to make sure eerythgin is doen right. It is annoying to be asked my name and date of birth more than three times, but I apprecite that no mistakes will be made too.
I understand your position completely!
I worked in Sterile Processing. It drove me insane whenever a coworker wasn't following
protocol. It put people at risk, and I wasn't going to turn a blind eye (no pun intended).
I felt I had a responsibility to the patients to keep them as safe as I was capable of.
By extension, I also had a responsibility to the surgeons, nurses, and techs, as well.
I'd keep reporting failures. At the very least, you're covering your own ass, just in case
something bad happens. Document everything!
Hospital safety is important. Ifnoone answers your complaints I would goover their head.
I'd report it. I usually stand guard over any close family member in the hospital to prevent medical mistakes. I just stopped a lady (could have been one of the cleaning staff) who was trying to replace my mom's IV with a new one that had a different patient's name on it.
I also stopped the doctor from doing a dangerous, invasive procedure on my mom (no doubt to pad the bill) and I insisted he do the quick, safe, alternate procedure. He fumed and raged and said HE was the doctor, so knew more than I did, etc., etc., but I held my ground and he relented, and my mom was OK.