Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

We are currently working in partnership with NHS England and BLMK Integrated Care Board to introduce a new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), which will go live across the Trust later this year.

What is PSIRF?

To support the NHS to further improve patient safety, all Trusts are preparing for the introduction of a new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF). PSIRF is a key part of the NHS Patient Safety Strategy which was published in July 2019 and aims to; help the NHS to improve its understanding of safety by drawing insight from patient safety incidents, outline how providers should respond, and when a patient safety incident investigation should be conducted.

Developed nationally to respond more effectively to patient safety incidents, PSIRF will replace the current Serious Incident Framework (2015) and represents a significant shift in the way the NHS responds to patient safety incidents. It supports the development and maintenance of an effective patient safety incident response system that integrates four key aims:

1. Compassionate engagement and involvement of those affected by patient safety incidents
2. Application of a range of system-based approached to learning from patient safety incidents
3. Considered and proportionate responses to patient safety incidents
4. Supportive oversight focused on strengthening response system functioning and improvement

The Benefits

This framework will see the Trust move away from the Serious Incident Framework (SIF), to a new approach to incident management, one which enables examination of a wider range of patient safety incidents “in the spirit of reflection and learning” rather than as part of a “framework of accountability”.

Patient Safety Incident Investigations (PSII) will focus on areas where the resulting improvement can have the greatest impact on the safety of our patients, whilst other methods of responding to patient safety incidents can be used, such as AARs, thematic reviews etc.

The introduction of PSIRF forms part of our commitment to developing a just and learning culture, building openness and transparency, ensuring everyone is treated fairly and that we learn from any errors. Our clinical governance teams are currently working hard to make sure we are ready to implement the new framework later this year.

For more information please visit the NHS England PSIRF website.