Researchers play a  key role in introducing a landmark change to national patient safety policy in England

Health researchers across Bradford and Leeds have played a key role in introducing a landmark change to national patient safety policy in England which offers patients and families an opportunity to be involved in investigations.

Over the past six months, researchers at the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber Patient Safety Translational Research Centre based at the Bradford Institute for Health Research, part of Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have been collaborating with the national patient safety team at NHS England and Improvement, and the national independent healthcare investigations body – the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch – on this important change.

On 16 August, a new policy was launched, called the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework. This new policy changes the way that NHS trusts will be asked to respond to patient safety events.

As part of this, new guidance has also been published which supports patients and their families to be involved in investigations that happen after something has gone wrong with care or treatment.

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