We have a Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF). This is used for patient safety investigations.
PSIRF helps us make care safer for patients. It helps us understand what went wrong when something unsafe happens. By learning from these events, we can make things better in the future.
This page tells you what to expect from us during a patient safety investigation.
Our commitment to you
We will:
- Always value your input.
- Be open and honest with you, your family or carers, throughout the investigation. We have a duty to do this.
- Involve you as much as you would like in the investigation.
- Do all we can to answer your questions.
- Provide you with a named contact. They will keep you up to date with the investigation.
- Ask for your comments about the draft investigation report.
- Share the final investigation report with you once it is complete.
We will talk to you about what happened
We understand that there may never be a good time to talk about what happened. A member of staff will contact you as soon as possible to talk. During this talk, we hope that you can tell us what is important to you so we can include this in the investigation.
You will get a named contact
We will send you details of your named contact. They will keep in contact with you throughout the investigation.
We will gather information about what happened
We will gather information about what happened. We get information from lots of sources such as medical records or staff who were involved.
We will try to understand what happened
We use the information to try to understand what happened. Sometimes it is not possible to find a clear cause.
At the end of the investigation, we will write a report. It will talk about:
- What happened
- Why it happened
- What we have learned
- What changes we will make to avoid it happening again
We will send you a copy of the draft report and ask for your comments. We’ll then produce a final report.
Things to know about the investigation report
When you read the report, it may sound impersonal. For example, it may use terms like ‘the patient’, or ‘the nurse’, rather than giving their names. This is because it is a formal report that needs to be written in a certain way. It needs to be structured and factual so we can see exactly what happened.
The investigation might not answer all your questions. If we can’t answer a question, we will explain why. If there is anything you do not fully understand (for example, any medical terms) please speak to your named contact. They will give you a detailed explanation.
Who will see the report?
We will send the report to our Trust Safety Incident Review Group. We may also share it with other teams in our Trust, such as our Advice and Complaints or Patient Safety teams.
Will the report include my full name and details?
No. This is to protect your privacy.
Will the report be included in my medical records?
No. The report will not be part of your medical record.
We cannot give an exact time. This is because there is often a lot of information to gather and analyse. We aim to complete the investigation within 3 months. Some investigations take longer. This might be because they are very complex or they need an expert opinion. Your named contact will keep you updated on how the investigation is going.
No. You can still access our services as usual. We will always treat you with care, compassion and respect.
We understand you may feel worried talking about your experience with people who work in the Trust, especially if you need further care or treatment. If you wish to get treatment from another team or provider instead, we will arrange this for you.
Your named contact can provide you with information about types of support. This might include things like counselling and bereavement services.
If you or your family have any concerns regarding the care or treatment provided in our Trust, the Advice and Complaints Service can provide additional support.
Email: stsft.
Telephone: 0191 569 9855 or Freephone 0800 587 6513
Opening times: Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:30pm
