New guidance on recording patient safety events and levels of harm

Guidance has been produced to support implementation of the new NHS Learn from Patient Safety Incidents (LFPSE):

https://www.england.nhs.uk/patient-safety/learn-from-patient-safety-events-service/

Released in August 2023, the NHS has set out expectation around the recording of patient safety events and how to define the level of harm caused. It sets out a number of definitions around the types of event, as well as clearly defining how the level of harm is graded, both for physical and psychological harm.

The recording guidance is structured around 18 key questions, including:

• Do we only record patient safety incidents that we know have occurred in our organisation?
• How are suicides, self-harm and deaths from drugs and alcohol recorded as patient safety incidents?
• How do we select the degree of harm when the ultimate clinical impact of a patient safety incident is not known?
• Can I still record an incident’s level of psychological harm if I am not a trained mental health professional?
• Does discharge from hospital indicate full recovery after a patient safety incident during hospital admission?

Ashtons clinical pharmacists report medication related issues identified during clinical audits using the Ashtons Live View System and can provide advice and support in preventing and managing these.

Full details of this guidance about reporting patient safety events is available on the NHS website here: https://www.england.nhs.uk/long-read/policy-guidance-on-recording-patient-safety-events-and-levels-of-harm/