Health Services Safety Investigations Body

We investigate patient safety concerns across England to improve NHS care at a national level.

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Latest investigation reports

Two ambulances parked outside a hospital emergency department entrance.

Medication not given: administration of time critical medication in the emergency department

The first in a series of investigations exploring patient safety events in NHS organisations, to understand why patients may not receive medications as planned. We explore the systems in place to support staff to recognise, prescribe and administer time critical medications.

Read the medication report
Empty chairs outside double doors leading to an outpatients department in an NHS hospital.

Healthcare provision in prisons: continuity of care

This investigation looks at maintaining a patient's healthcare throughout the prison system regardless of their location. 'Did not attend' rates for prison outpatient appointments during 2024 were 43% for males and 48% for females, compared to 26% in the general population.

Read the prisons report
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Mental health inpatient settings: out of area placements

This investigation explores what drives the need for out of area placements, and the impact on patients and their families when they are placed far from their homes. Part of our Secretary of State directed mental health investigations.

Read the out of area report

About us

We aim to be the global leader in professional, high quality healthcare safety investigations. We investigate patient safety concerns across England to improve NHS care at a national level. Our investigations do not find blame or liability with individuals or organisations. Information shared with us is confidential and protected by law.


We are a fully independent arm’s length body of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Find out more about us
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Investigations

We can investigate patient safety concerns that occur in England during the provision of healthcare services, and that have or may have implications for the safety of patients.

Our investigations can consider healthcare provided in the NHS and the independent sector. Where an investigation relates to an incident that did not occur in the NHS, we must consider whether NHS systems and practices could be improved because of our investigation.


We can also be directed to investigate a patient safety concern by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

More about our investigation process
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Education

HSSIB’s CPD accredited education programme is delivered by healthcare safety investigation experts.


We offer a range of courses to support development and help embed professional safety investigations across the NHS. For NHS staff in England, courses run online and are free of charge to attend.


Commercial courses are available to support those outside of the NHS in England.


Our flagship course – A systems approach to investigating and learning from patient safety incidents – launches new cohorts throughout the year. It's free of charge and open to all in healthcare, including those outside of the NHS.

Enrol on a course

News, events and blogs

Two ambulances parked outside a hospital emergency department entrance.

Report highlights impact of emergency departments missing or delaying ‘time critical’ medication for patients with existing conditions

We’ve published a report examining the case of a patient who did not receive time critical Parkinson’s medication whilst attending an emergency department.
Read the full article
The Swedish flag stuck into a map of the Scandinavian region of Europe.

How HSSIB contributes to patient safety: a view from Sweden

The leadership team of the Swedish Accident Investigation Authority compare their capacity for healthcare safety investigations to that of HSSIB and highlight how our international counterparts consi…
Read the full article
Empty chairs outside double doors leading to an outpatients department in an NHS hospital.

Dignity fears contribute to prisoners not attending hospital or clinic appointments

Our latest report raises concerns over female prisoners privacy and dignity after an investigation found they are often taken to outpatient appointments by male prison officers.
Read the full article