Health professionals' experiences of whistleblowing in maternal and newborn healthcare settings : A scoping review and thematic analysis

Journal article

Capper, Tanya, Ferguson, Bridget and Muurlink, Olav. (2024). Health professionals' experiences of whistleblowing in maternal and newborn healthcare settings : A scoping review and thematic analysis. Women and Birth. 37(3), p. Article 101593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101593
AuthorsCapper, Tanya, Ferguson, Bridget and Muurlink, Olav
Abstract

Problem
Whistleblowing, which involves raising concerns about wrongdoing, carries risks yet can be crucial to ensuring the safety of health service users in maternal and newborn healthcare settings. Understanding of the experiences of health care professionals that enact whistleblowing in this context is currently limited.

Background
Notable inquiries involving maternity services such as those reported upon by Ockenden and Kirkup and the Lucy Letby case in the United Kingdom have shone an international spotlight on whistleblowing failures.

Aim
To identify and synthesise available literature addressing the experiences of healthcare professionals enacting whistleblowing in maternal and newborn care settings.

Methods
This scoping review followed Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Five academic databases were systematically searched for documents published between January 2013 and October 2023 with additional searches of Google Scholar and related reference lists.

Findings
Whilst 35 papers from international sources were identified, the majority originated from the United Kingdom, where recent high-profile incidents have occurred. Thematic analysis identified three main themes: ‘Structural Power’, ‘Perfectionism’ and ‘Bravery, Hope and Disappointment’, each with sub-themes.

Discussion
Whistleblowing is frequently an altruistic act in a hierarchical system. It exposes poor practices and disrupts power dynamics, especially in challenging workplace cultures. Open disclosure, however, requires psychological safety. Obstacles persist, emphasising the need for a culture of trust and transparency led by individuals who embody the desired values.

Conclusion
Primary research on whistleblowing in maternal and newborn healthcare settings is limited. This study sheds light on power dynamics and factors that affect whistleblowing.

Keywordswhistleblowing; maternity care; speaking up; safety and quality; scoping review
Year2024
JournalWomen and Birth
Journal citation37 (3), p. Article 101593
PublisherElsevier Ltd
ISSN1871-5192
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wombi.2024.101593
PubMed ID38423844
Scopus EID2-s2.0-85186352599
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
Page range1-13
Publisher's version
License
File Access Level
Open
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online28 Feb 2024
Publication process dates
Accepted18 Feb 2024
Deposited01 Jul 2025
Additional information

© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Australian College of Midwives. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).

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