HPA believe the NHS should have a moral and ethical duty of care, to try to meet the needs it creates for people when they are harmed by the healthcare it provides.
This powerful report highlights that Harmed Patients and Families struggle to obtain specialist independent information advice and advocacy to meet their unique needs, despite patients and families at various national listening events intended to support co-production of more meaningful after harm services repeatedly stressing the need for it.
National Guidance Documents related to after harm processes all inform NHS trusts to signpost patients and families to independent sources of information advice and advocacy. We ask what is actually available for them to signpost to? Can what is available help all the people that need help, in the ways they need it?
The report is being considered at a roundtable meeting of key stakeholders, including representatives of NHS England, The CQC, The Patient Safety Commissioner, The PHSO, NHS Resolution, HSIB, and Patient Charities and Advocacy groups.
It is hoped that this will result in system-wide acknowledgement of this important and currently unmet need and a commitment to do something about it.
You can read the report here.
We welcome your views and comments on this important issue. Please email them to info@harmedpatientsalliance.org.uk