The Maternity and Newborn Safety Investigations (MNSI) have announced a second pilot programme of their innovative assessment tool designed to examine the impact of organisational culture on safe care.
The initial pilot of the MNSI tool, called COMPASS – Culture of Organisations and its iMpact on PAtientS’ Safety – ran in spring 2025 with 12 NHS Trusts.
The tool is based on a literature review by the Patient Experience Library which analysed more than 10 years of avoidable harm inquiry reports and identified recurring ‘cultural red flags’ that compromise patient safety.
Feedback from the first pilot included:
- Almost all Trusts agreed that COMPASS added insight into the impact of organisational culture on patient safety
- A majority indicated that they would take actions based on their COMPASS results
- Half reported that the process had a positive effect on the relationship between MNSI and their Trust
- Most respondents felt that regular use of COMPASS would be of benefit, with some expressing interest in using the tool independently.
The second pilot will test tool refinements made in response to feedback and further explore its value for Trusts and the wider maternity and neonatal system.
The work will include up to six months of collecting observations of organisational culture, analysis of collected data and presentation of findings to hospital maternity leadership teams to provide external insight. Trust staff will be invited to share feedback on their experience and the value of COMPASS to their organisation.
Source: MNSI, 16 February 2026
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