Trust Awareness of Duty of Candour
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.
- A Being Open Framework has been implemented across HSC Trusts on a non-statutory basis, including staff training on candour principles (Department of Health NI Progress Report, December 2018).
- In December 2024, the Department launched a public consultation on formalising the Being Open Framework alongside a statutory duty of candour (Being Open Framework and Duty of Candour Consultation, Department of Health NI, December 2024).
- The framework remains non-statutory; the statutory duty of candour recommended by the Inquiry has not been enacted.
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedBeing Open Framework implemented across Trusts. Training provided to staff on duty of candour principles.
Reviewed in context of workforce planning. Some concerns raised by Royal Colleges about potential de-skilling impacts. Implementation being balanced against training needs.
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
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.