MPs have told health regulators that NHS workers must report concerns about colleagues or face being investigated.
The recommendations were made in a report published on Tuesday by the House of Commons health select committee on accountability hearings with the General Medical Council (GMC) and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
Whistleblowing has been a high profile issue within the NHS in recent years. There has been strong criticism of a culture of inactivity when it comes to reporting failures. MPs are keen to emphasise that if NHS staff do not report concerns, they risk investigation themselves.
Last year, The British Medical Journal investigated the extent to which whistleblowing was encouraged. It found that four NHS trusts did not even mention that staff could go outside the organisation with problems and a fifth did not stress confidentiality would be protected.
The GMC, which regulates doctors, said it was committed to doing more in this area. Its chief executive, Niall Dickson, acknowledged: "The committee rightly challenges us, as well as all health professionals, to speak up if they are aware of poor patient care. We know there is more we can do in this area and we are committed to doing it.'
The committee says the NMC and GMC have to send a clear signal that staff who fail to report concerns are at as much risk for being investigated as they are from any poor practice of their own. Stephen Dorrell MP, chair of the Health Committee said:
"Every practising doctor and nurse knows that in addition to their obligation to care for their patients, they have an obligation as professionals to report to their professional body any concerns they have about the quality of care being delivered by their colleagues."
MPs highlighted the importance of the regulators, but BMA Chairman of Council, Dr Hamish Meldrum, commented:
"The creation of a culture in which staff feel able to raise concerns without fear of retribution or ostracism, is not just down to the role of regulators. The NHS needs to ensure that it creates an open and transparent environment where all employees know that their concerns are welcomed and that they themselves will be supported'.
The report comes weeks after a sacked NHS whistleblower was vindicated by a tribunal, which reinstated her to her full salary, after an unfair dismissal.
The GMC is currently investigating doctors at Stafford Hospital who allegedly failed to report colleagues. The GMC said that in the past five years it had investigated more than 80 doctors over allegations that they did not report their failing colleagues, or did not report soon enough.
The Department of Health has held a consultation about strengthening safeguards for whistle-blowers. It closed in January, but no response has been published yet.