IHRD-4 Response Accepted in Part AI-assessed

Trust Awareness of Duty of Candour

Recommendation

Trusts should ensure that all healthcare professionals are made fully aware of the importance, meaning and implications of the duty of candour and its critical role in the provision of healthcare.

Published Evidence Summary
The following publicly available evidence relates to this recommendation:
The Department of Health NI established an Implementation Programme for the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths (IHRD) in March 2018 (health-ni.gov.uk). The government stated in March 2018 that a 'Being Open Framework' was implemented across HSC Trusts, with training provided to staff on candour principles. A February 2026 update from HSC Trusts and the Department of Health NI confirmed the implementation of this non-statutory framework and staff training, but noted that a statutory duty of candour remains unimplemented, meaning compliance relies on goodwill rather than legal obligation. The recommendation was listed as 'In Progress' in a January 2024 Department of Health NI update.
How was this assessed?
Assessed by gemini-2.5-flash on 24 Mar 2026
Checked data held on this site (government responses, progress updates, independent evidence)
External sources searched: www.gov.uk, www.health-ni.gov.uk, www.legislation.gov.uk, hansard.parliament.uk
This recommendation asks for cultural or behavioural change, which is difficult to verify objectively. The assessment is based on policy commitments, not measured outcomes.
Jurisdiction
Northern Ireland
Response
Accepted in Part
Accepted in Part Northern Ireland Executive Initial Response
01 Mar 2018

Reviewed in context of workforce planning. Some concerns raised by Royal Colleges about potential de-skilling impacts. Implementation being balanced against training needs.

Read Full Response
Accepted HSC Trusts Follow-up
01 Mar 2018

Being Open Framework implemented across Trusts. Training provided to staff on duty of candour principles.

Read Full Response
Published Evidence

Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.

Reasonable Progress
06 Feb 2026
HSC Trusts / Department of Health NI Other

A Being Open Framework has been implemented across HSC Trusts with staff training on candour principles, but this is non-statutory and lacks enforcement mechanisms.

View detailed findings

While the statutory duty of candour remains unimplemented, HSC Trusts have adopted the Being Open Framework which promotes openness and transparency. Training has been provided to staff on candour principles. However, without statutory backing, compliance relies on goodwill rather than legal obligation. The 2024 consultation sought to strengthen this framework.

IHRD Implementation Programme / Being Open Framew… View Source
Source
Inquiry Hyponatraemia Inquiry
Report Report of the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths 31 Jan 2018
View Source
Responsible Bodies
Northern Ireland Executive Primary
HSC Trusts Primary
Themes & Tags
Duty of Candour implementation Staff policy awareness Medical Training Paediatrics Staffing Duty of Candour Training Healthcare
Recommendation age 8.1 yrs
Last formal update 783 days ago