VCH established a whistleblower policy and hotline in 2012.  To raise awareness about the hotline and make it more accessible, VCH is implementing permanent signage at all its facilities beginning this month. Although the signage is new, information about the whistleblower hotline has been available on VCH.ca for over two years.

What’s the hotline for?

At VCH we care about doing the right thing.  Vancouver Coastal Health is committed to delivering high quality care in a professional and ethical manner.  If you believe that anyone working for VCH has acted in bad faith or committed wrongdoing we want to know about it.

Wrongdoing may include:

• mistreatment of patients, staff or members of the public;
• actions that pose a danger to patients, public health, or the environment;
• actions that are unlawful or not in compliance with any laws or regulations;
• theft, fraud, bribery or corruption;
• unethical or unprofessional conduct;
• unauthorized use, misuse, or waste of public funds or resources;
• non-compliance with procurement rules or other unfair trade practices;
• actions that are not in compliance with VCH policies or procedures, internal financial controls, or audit procedures; and
• continuing to act while in a real or perceived conflict of interest.

All reports will be treated confidentially.

Who can use the hotline?

Anyone can confidentially report a known or suspected case of wrongdoing by a person working for VCH to the Whistleblower Hotline.  Reports in good faith can be made without fear of reprisal, harassment or retaliation.

Don’t we already have something like this?

VCH has a number of reporting mechanisms in place to deal with different kinds of concerns:

• Respectful Workplace No-Bully Line (inappropriate comments or conduct by an employee causing another employee to be humiliated or intimidated),
• Patient Care Quality Office (for patient care complaints),
• VCH Facility Licensing (assisted living and residential care complaints),
• Information Privacy Office (for privacy breaches).

If an individual feels that an existing reporting mechanism does not apply, is flawed or was not properly followed, the Whistleblower Hotline is an option.

Whistleblower Hotline

• (604) 675-2520
• Toll Free: 1-855-675-2520
• whistleblower@vch.ca

For the whistleblower policy and frequently asked questions, visit the Legal & Ethics page on VCH connect.