Freedom to Speak Up Guardian - biography

Katy Whicker

I would like to introduce myself as your Lead Freedom to Speak up Guardian at the QEH. I felt it was really important to ensure staff in the organisation know a little bit about me and why I am so passionate about this role.

I started my career at the QEH 23 years ago when I commenced my nurse training in the school of nursing that was then on site. I had always wanted to be a nurse from a very young age and when the first degree course commenced here I knew this was the place I wanted to train.

I qualified in 2002 and worked within the hospital for 15 years in a variety of ward based and specialist nurse roles. During this time I also had 2 children and received my care at QEH and have always felt incredibly proud to work here and be treated here as a patient.

After 15 years I felt it was time for me to gain some wider experience outside of the QEH and I left to work as a nurse within the police and within the community. These were both amazing experiences and enhanced my skills immensely but there was something missing within both roles that I couldn’t put my finger on! I then returned to the QEH within the surgical division working as the Ward Manager on Gayton and more recently in my current role as Matron for Surgery.

On reflection, what I was missing, was the feeling of support and belonging that I had always felt within the QEH. This is really what has driven me to take on the role of the Freedom to Speak Up Guardian as I feel this is something all staff within the organisation are entitled to feel.

In my current role as a Matron I pride myself on focussing on providing high quality of care for our patients and helping to ensure we have the best environment possible for our staff to work within. I am passionate about equality and fairness and will always treat everyone I meet with the compassion, respect and dignity they deserve.

Speaking up is not an easy thing to do so I feel that these qualities and skills will ensure staff feel able to speak up knowing they are doing it safely and will always get the support and guidance they need from myself and the Freedom to Speak Up team.

It is vitally important that all staff feel listened to and supported and that they have the confidence that action will be taken to ensure the best levels of care can be provided to the patients within our care. This role is key to making this a reality to everyone within the QEH and I am so pleased to be part of this journey with you all.

I am so excited to be taking on this very privileged role and continuing to help drive the changes that have already happened within the organisation as we strive to achieve a truly open culture.