Recommendation BRIS-58: Formally assess non-clinical patient care competence for initial professional qualification
From Bristol Heart Inquiry — Final Report, published 18 July 2001.
Recommendation
Competence in non-clinical aspects of caring for patients should be formally assessed as part of the process of obtaining an initial professional qualification, whether as a doctor, a nurse or some other healthcare professional.
Government response
No government response to this recommendation is on the record yet.
Delivery
DHSC and NHS England say in progress (27 February 2026)
Please response to Recommendation 69 (Professional standards).
Good communication skills have a positive effect on health outcomes. Patients and those important to them want to know about and participate in their own healthcare and associated decision making so all staff need to able to communicate sensitively and compassionately. Relevant frameworks include:
• The GMC framework for generic professional capabilities, which sets out the essential generic capabilities needed for safe, effective and high-quality medical care in the UK. . • The GMC Good Medical Practice guidance, which includes communicating effectively with patients, which came into effect in January 2024.
• The NMC standard of proficiency for registered nurses, which include non-clinical competencies.
• Making Every Contact Count, which is a programme that enables the delivery of consistent and concise health and wellbeing information and encourages individuals to engage in conversations about their health at scale across organisations and populations.
• Additional NHS England resources, such as:
o the Cancer Communications Hub which provides resources on how good communication skills benefit patients, service users and people affected by cancer, and those important to them.
o Communication for those waiting for planned care or treatment
o Communications toolkit for local maternity team to improve communications with black, Asian and minority ethnic women
o E-learning for Health courses, which are open to everyone working in healthcare on communicating with empathy
Site note: DHSC and NHS England's own account of progress, supplied to the Thirlwall Inquiry in September 2024 and printed in the Inquiry legal team's Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version dated April 2025, published 27 February 2026). It is not a finding of the Inquiry. Their reviewed extent of implementation reads “Implemented – Ongoing”. Table row: section 6.2 No. 58, PDF page 98-99.
What other bodies have found
In their own words. These do not change the delivery statement above.
Thirlwall Inquiry legal team (15 May 2024)
The Government agreed with his recommendation.
In its January 2002 response, the Department of Health said the non-clinical aspects of care were already a core part of the training of health professionals, and that it was working with the professions and educationalists to strengthen non-clinical aspects of care.
Site note: The Thirlwall Inquiry legal team's own notes on implementation, from its Review of Implementation of Recommendations from Previous Inquiries into Healthcare Issues (version of 15 May 2024). The review does not colour its Extent of Implementation cell for this recommendation green; it leaves the cell uncoloured where a recommendation was rejected, where evidence of implementation was insufficient, or where steps had been taken but implementation was not yet complete. Table row: section 6.2 No. 58, PDF page 91.
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- DHSC and NHS England
Delivery statement - Thirlwall Inquiry legal team
Finding