Being Open is a set of principles, developed by the National Patient Safety Agency, that healthcare staff should use when communicating with patients, their families and carers following a patient safety incident in which the patient was harmed. Being Open supports a culture of openness, honesty and transparency.

Being Open involves:

·        acknowledging, apologising and explaining when things go wrong

·        conducting a thorough investigation into the incident and reassuring patients, their families and carers that lessons learned will help prevent the incident recurring

·        providing support for those involved to cope with the physical and psychological consequences of what happened.

It is important to remember that saying sorry is not an admission of liability and is the right thing to do.

The Board and staff of NHS South Gloucestershire are fully committed to the principles of Being Open when dealing with patient safety incidents, complaints and claims and this is reflected in the PCT’s local policies.

The leads for Being Open within NHS South Gloucestershire are:

Jane Gibbs, Deputy Chief Executive

Gill Sinkinson, Non-Executive Director

Hazel Braund, Project Director (Provider Services)

Sue Marchant, Non-Executive Director (Provider Services)

For further information please contact:

Carole Morgan, Patient Safety & Risk Manager (e-mail carole.morgan@sglos-pct.nhs.uk)

Nirma Phillips, Lead Nurse Clinical Governance (Provider Services) (e-mail nirma.phillips@sglos-pct.nhs.uk)

A copy of the NPSA Being Open Framework can be found at www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/beingopen