A new proposal from equality specialist Andrea Knowles MSc, Founder and Director of Staff Equality Networks Ltd, calls for the creation of an NHS Employment Ombudsman; an independent body with the power to investigate and sanction NHS organisations over bullying, discrimination, and whistleblowing failures.
The move, campaigners say, could save the NHS billions in legal fees and reduce the long-term human and financial cost of workplace disputes.
Recent NHS Staff Survey data shows that around one in four employees report bullying or harassment at work. Some cases end up in costly employment tribunals with limited systemic learning and little justice for victims.
Knowles argues that an Ombudsman with statutory powers to fine organisations and enforce corrective action would “replace adversarial, expensive legal battles with fair and transparent resolution,” helping restore trust in NHS leadership and redirecting savings back into patient care.
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“The NHS spends billions defending discrimination and bullying claims and billions on payouts, when early accountability could prevent harm altogether,” said Knowles. “An Employment Ombudsman would make the system fairer, faster, and financially smarter.”
The proposal comes amid growing concern over staff retention, burnout, and the forthcoming closure of the National Guardian’s Office in 2026, leaving a potential accountability gap in the NHS workforce landscape.
The ‘Andi Changes Health’ campaign urges the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England to support the Ombudsman model as part of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan.
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