The appointment of a National Guardian was a recommendation by Sir Robert Francis QC in the 2015 Freedom to Speak Up Review[1] which investigated whistleblower detriment and barriers in the NHS in England.
The NGO uses the term "speaking up" rather than whistleblowing to support healthcare workers to raise ideas for improvement as well as concerns.
[4][5] Dr Hughes stepped down after five years in post in September 2021[6] The first Freedom to Speak Up National Guardian for the NHS was Eileen Sills[7][8][9] who resigned two months after being appointed, citing insufficient time to combine the role with her other work.
Its remit also includes advising and challenging the healthcare system by describing and sharing good practice and reviewing the way that speaking up is handled.
In response to the report from the Gosport Independent Panel looking into the deaths at Gosport War Memorial Hospital, the National Guardian is required to "publish an independent, annual report to be laid before Parliament to showcase best practice, hold the Government and the system to account and advocate for change.