A conference calling for greater support for NHS "whistleblowers" has been organised by a Glasgow-based patient group.

It has been organised by Scotland Patients Association, which is headed by Dr Jean Turner, a former MSP and Springburn GP.

The group says health staff must be encouraged to raise serious concerns at work as early as possible "before any damage is done".

It warns that if a safe alternative to silence is not provided by health boards, there is a danger poor practice will go unchallenged.

Scottish Health Secretary Alex Neil will be among the speakers at the conference.

Last month, the Scottish Government launched a whistleblowers' helpline for NHS staff to highlight any concerns.

Mr Neil said the free, confidential hotline (0800 0086112), which is being piloted over the next year, would allow workers to report fears "safely and confidentially".

Complaints will be passed to employers or health service regulatory board bosses for full investigation.

It follows the Francis Inquiry in England, which uncovered "appalling" failings at Mid-Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, where substandard care was said to have contributed to the deaths of up to 1200 patients.

Margaret Watt, chairwoman of Scotland Patients Association, warned the service could be "overwhelmed" by complaints from staff, and called for an audit of the line after the year-long pilot.

She said: "It's a wonderful idea, but we need to know whether it will be a service that is staffed properly rather than just a phone line for people to leave messages.

"All the calls will be important, so we can't just leave any. We should have an audit of how many calls are made, what type they were and what's needed."

The conference is being held at the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh, on June 4.

Other speakers will include Professor Sheila McLean, Professor of Law and Ethics at Glasgow University.

Dr Kim Holt, chairwoman of Patients First, will also look at "patterns of retribution against whistleblowers".

caroline.wilson@eveningtimes.co.uk