asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether strategic health authorities or primary care trusts have any arrangements to enable their staff to raise, in confidence, concerns about matters of financial reporting, disclosure of other information or value for money; and, if so, whether they will give details of the arrangements.[HL7693]

All NHS bodies are required to have appropriate whistleblowing arrangements in place to enable staff to report in confidence on matters of concern such as those raised. The Department of Health subscribes to an independent whistleblowing helpline operated by Public Concern at Work. This is available to NHS staff and is a source of independent advice on whistleblowing issues. In addition, health bodies are required to comply with directions on counter-fraud work and to have a trained local counter-fraud specialist. There is a free telephone reporting line for receiving allegations or reported suspicions of fraud.