Recommendation IBI-4a(v): Leadership Accountability for Safety

4a) v. Advancing patient safety and reducing harm in the NHS is a priority for this Government. We acknowledge the importance of recording and responding to patient safety incidents and the underpinning principle of this recommendation in increasing openness and transparency within the NHS. While senior leaders’ accountability is an important driver to delivering increased openness, this recommendation is complex to implement and enforce. It may have significant resourcing and employment law implications and actually be counter-productive in terms of advancing candour and safety culture. It may be possible to hold NHS leaders accountable for the mechanisms in their organisations associated with recording and responding to patient safety incidents through professional standards and regulating managers - and we are preparing our response to the consultation on bringing managers into regulation. Linked with recommendation 4a)iv, the Department of Health and Social Care is also consulting on the following pledge for inclusion in the NHS Constitution: “To provide a culture of accountability where NHS leaders ensure that the statutory duty of candour is correctly followed in their organisation, and that they ensure systems and processes exist for responding to patient safety concerns.”