The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has appointed Dame Eileen Sills, the chief nurse at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS FT, as the first ‘national guardian' for speaking up safely within the NHS.

As the ‘national guardian for the freedom to speak up', Dame Eileen ‘will help to lead a cultural change, initially within NHS trusts and NHS foundation trusts, so that healthcare staff always feel confident and supported to raise concerns about patient care', according to the CQC.