Improved investigations when serious patient safety incidents occur

The NHS has joined with the police and Health and Safety Executive to improve investigations into serious patient safety incidents.

The Department of Health (DH), Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) launched a memorandum of understanding on 20 February 2006 to help ensure that serious patient safety incidents are conducted in a consistent and well co-ordinated manner that leads to effective learning.

The new protocol will take effect in circumstances of unexpected death or serious untoward harm, involving patients being treated in either NHS or independent sector hospitals, requiring investigation by the police and/or the HSE. This will normally be the case if an incident has arisen from or involves criminal intent, recklessness and/or gross negligence or, in the context of health and safety, involves a work-related death or serious injury.

The commitment is to ensure:

• Better and more co-ordinated liaison with patients and/or relatives when investigations take place
• Wider learning for staff across the NHS from these incidents
• Reduced disruption to services when investigations do take place
• Better safeguards for patients and public
• Improved risk awareness in the NHS
• Better treatment as the result of professionals feeling able to be open rather than defensive when errors do occur.

More information can be found on the DH website.