NHS should admit mistakes, say patient groups

NHS trusts should have to tell patients when they make mistakes, according to patient groups.

By Charlotte Beugge

The NHS should have to be transparent about mistakes and not just provide anonymised accounts when things go seriously wrong with their care of patients, a number of patient groups say.

In a letter published in the Daily Telegraph, the groups say that the government is just "paying lip service" to the principle of openness and clauses in its health bill will be "next to useless in preventing cover ups".

Since April 2010 the paper says that trusts have been legally obliged to provide anonymised reports of incidents causing significant harm to patients to the National Reporting and Learning System.

But the trusts are not required to tell patients or the close family members about incidents and there is nothing in the bill that will alter that.

One of the ten groups behind of the letter, Peter Walsh of the charity Action against Medical Accidents, said: "The current situation means health organisations can effectively cover an incident up from a patient or family member, so long as it sends off an anonymised report."

The signatories, which also include the Patients Association and the Stroke Association, want the bill to be amended and three peers have tabled an amendment.

This would ensure healthcare organisations "take all reasonable steps to ensure that a patient or, in the event of death or incapacity, their next of kin, are fully informed" of such safety incidents.

Health minister Simon Burns is quoted as saying that there are other moves afoot which will make trusts more open about mistakes.

He explained: "The changes we have proposed would mean providers must be transparent in admitting mistakes, and this would be enforceable by commissioners."