Professional Duty of Candour

Every healthcare professional in this practice will be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong with their treatment or care which causes, or has the potential to cause, harm or distress.

This means that healthcare professionals will:

• tell the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, Carer or family) when something has gone wrong;
• apologise to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, Carer or family);
• offer an appropriate remedy or support to put matters right (if possible); and
• explain fully to the patient (or, where appropriate, the patient’s advocate, Carer or family) the short and long term effects of what has happened.

Health professionals will also be open and honest with their colleagues, employers and relevant organisations, and take part in reviews and investigations when requested. Health and care professionals must also be open and honest with their regulators, raising concerns where appropriate. They must support and encourage each other to be open and honest and not stop someone from raising concerns.