Framework for Learning and Improvement from Patient Safety Incidents Consultation (Northern Ireland – deadline 5pm on 20 June 2025)

Summary

The Department of Health is undertaking a consultation on the introduction of a new Regional Framework for Learning and Improvement from Patient Safety Incidents and supporting documentation to replace the current Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) Procedure in Northern Ireland.

The closing date is 20 June 2025 at 5.00pm.

Content

The proposed new draft Regional Framework for Learning and Improvement from Patient Safety Incidents is intended to replace the existing SAI procedure in Northern Ireland. 

Evidence from inquiries and reports – including the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority Review of Systems and Processes for Learning from Serious Adverse Incidents, the inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths report and the Independent Neurology Inquiry - highlight that aspects of the current SAI procedure need to be refreshed and redesigned.

The key aims of this new draft Framework is to:

• Providing a more streamlined and simplified process for reviewing Patient Safety Incidents, to ensure reviews are of a high quality;
• Place all those affected at the heart of the process;
• Focus on understanding how and why a Patient Safety Incident has occurred to identify system-wide learning leading to demonstrable and sustainable improvements in care.

The consultation will focus on the following four draft documents:

• The Framework for Learning and Improvement from Patient Safety Incidents
• Regional Standards for the Conduct of Patient Safety Incident Learning Reviews
• Principles for Engaging, Involving and Supporting All those Affected by a Patient Safety Incident
• Principles for Engaging, Involving and Supporting Staff Affected by a Patient Safety Incident