Aim
To assist staff to effectively communicate with patients and/or their next of kin involved in patient safety incidents to ensure that staff feel empowered and supported to be open with patients and or next of kin when moderate harm and above has occurred within the clinic.

Objectives

Notifiable safety incident’ is a specific term defined in the duty of candour regulation. It should not be confused with other types of safety incidents or notifications. A notifiable safety incident must meet all 3 of the following criteria:

1. It must have been unintended or unexpected.
2. It must have occurred during the provision of an activity we regulate.
3. In the reasonable opinion of a healthcare professional, already has, or might, result in death, or severe or moderate harm to the person receiving care. This element varies slightly depending on the type of provider.

This list does not cover everything

You must start the specific procedure laid out in the duty of candour regulation ‘as soon as reasonably practicable’.

We will always expect to see providers acting promptly as soon as a notifiable safety incident has been discovered. The ‘registered person’ is responsible for carrying out, or delegating the responsibility for carrying out, the duty and must liaise with the ‘relevant person’.

The ‘registered person’ is the registered manager or the registered provider.

The regulation states that you must:

1. Tell the relevant person, face-to-face, that a notifiable safety incident has taken place.
2. Apologise. Regulation 20: duty of candour Page 20 of 28
3. Provide a true account of what happened, explaining whatever you know at that point.
4. Explain to the relevant person what further enquiries or investigations you believe to be appropriate.
5. Follow up by providing this information, and the apology, in writing, and providing an update on any enquiries.
6. Keep a secure written record of all meetings and communications with the relevant person. The purpose of these meetings and communications is to share whatever is know

Privacy and Confidentiality of Personal Information – Information is shared with consent to enable care.

• Informed consent is sought when using trained interpreters.
• Precautions are taken to prevent information being shared inappropriately.

The practice consent, confidentiality policy, Caldicott principles and information security policies are adhered to at all times.

Ensuring the effectiveness of the policy

All staff members will receive a copy of the Duty of Candour policy. Existing and new workers will be introduced to the policy via induction and training. The policy will be reviewed annually and amendments will be made if necessary.

There will be an annual duty of candour report which will be published in the clinic waiting room.