New guidance issued by the NHS Litigation Authority has encouraged NHS staff to be more open with patients and “say sorry” when things go wrong. Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has stated that he wants to end the “closed and defensive culture” which had developed in parts of the NHS under the Labour Government, and noted that “it’s great to see staff being supported to do the right thing [through the guidance]”.
The Daily Telegraph
NHS Litigation Authority
Pete from PSI: A constant line of attack from the Health Secretary since he took over the role in September 2012 has been to encourage health sector staff to take responsibility for issues which arise as part of their role providing care for patients. The introduction of a new Duty of Candour this year in the Care Bill, through which staff will be expected to volunteer information regarding patients who have been harmed in their care, was a key recommendation of the Francis Report into failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust, and has been widely pushed across both the Government and leading health bodies.
