Duty of Candour Policy

At Frome Valley Medical Centre, we are committed to being open, honest and transparent with our patients.

All patients, staff and any visitors to the organisation have the assurance that any incident will be thoroughly investigated and reported upon. This is due to our desire to promote a learning culture to both support the improvement of safety and to raise the quality of healthcare provision.

Duty of candour is when there is a general duty to be open and transparent with people receiving care from this organisation. Regulation 20 explains that both the statutory duty of candour and the professional duty of candour have similar aims, to make sure that those providing care are open and transparent with the people using their services whether or not something has gone wrong.

We will contact patients if a safety incident has been identified and proceed with the following steps.

•    Notify you as soon as possible
•    Clearly explain what is known at the time
•    Provide advice and explain what further enquiries may be appropriate
•    Apologise and listen to any concerns
•    Provide you with a written explanation and outcome

Notifiable safety incident is a specific term defined in the duty of candour.  It should not be confused with other types of safety incidents or notifications. A notifiable safety incident must meet all three of the following criteria:
1.    It must have been unintended or unexpected
2.    It must have occurred during the provision of regulated activity
3.    In the reasonable opinion of a healthcare professional, it already has, or might, result in death or severe or moderate harm to the person receiving care

If any of these criteria are not met, it is not a notifiable safety incident, however, we will still consider the overarching duty of candour, to be open and transparent and contact patients appropriately.

Depending on the degree of harm, the organisation must consider reporting the incident to the following:
•    Integrated Care Board 
•    Care Quality Commission
•    Learning from Patients Safety Events Service 
•    Information Commissioners Office (ICO) 

Reportable incidents need to be made within 72 hours of discovery so prompt reporting is essential.