To ask the Minister of Health to detail the current protocol and procedures in relation to Serious Adverse Incident processes that Health and Social Care Trusts must follow, including (i) timelines for completion; and (ii) the sharing of information with those patients and their families involved.

There is a requirement for all Health and Social Care (HSC) organisations to report Serious Adverse Incidents (SAIs) to the Strategic Planning and Performance Group (SPPG).

SPPG work jointly with the Public Health Agency (PHA) and collaboratively with the Regulation and Quality Improvement (RQIA) to exercise this requirement via the ‘Regional Procedure for the reporting and Follow Up of Serious Adverse Incidents (SAIs)’. The procedure provides guidance to HSC Organisations in relation to SAIs arising during the course of their business or commissioned service. It aims to put in place the mechanisms to effectively identify and share learning both locally and regionally with a focus on safety and quality; leading to service improvements.

The SAI Procedure can be accessed on the Health and Social Care website via https://online.hscni.net/wpfd_file/procedure-for-the-reporting-and-follow-up-of-sais-2016/.

In line with the SAI Procedure, SAI reviews should be conducted at a level 1, 2 or 3, which is appropriate and proportionate to the complexity of the incident under review. Timescales for completion of review and submission to SPPG for each level of review is as follows:

Level 1 SAI Review – within 8 weeks

Level 2 SAI Review – within 12 weeks

Level 3 SAI Review – timescale to be agreed between the reporting organisation and the SPPG/PHA DRO

Following an SAI it is important, in the spirit of honesty and openness, to ensure a consistent approach is afforded to the level of service user / family engagement across the region. When engaging with service users/family/carers, HSC Trusts should refer to addendum 1 of the SAI Procedure ‘A Guide for Health and Social Care Staff Engagement/Communication with Service User/Family/Cares following a SAI.’ This guide assists HSC Trusts to ensure effective communication with the service user/family/carer is undertaken in an open, transparent, informed, consistent and timely manner.