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Close-up view of the back doors of an ambulance, against a grey sky. The blue emergency lights are switched on.
Blog

HSSIB impact: life-saving difference for acute aortic dissection patients

19 September 2025

To mark Global Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, Gareth Owens from the national patient charity blogs about the impact two HSSIB reports have had, with hundreds more people now receiving life-saving e…
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The logo for World Patient Safety Day 2025.
News

WHO calls for safe care for every newborn and every child

17 September 2025

Today – 17 September 2025 – is World Patient Safety Day. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s an opportunity to raise public awareness, foster collaboration between organisations and mobi…
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News

Report highlights importance of national response to maternity safety concerns

19 August 2025

Today, we published a new report and reiterates that challenges in maternity and neonatal safety are the result of systemic issues at a national level, rather than isolated issues within local areas.
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A nurse wearing scrubs prepares surgical instruments including swabs.
News

Risk of surgical swabs being left inside patients

16 April 2024

We've investigated the risk of unintentional ‘retained’ swabs after invasive procedures. The investigation was launched after we examined the case of a patient who had two swabs left in her ches…
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A tired hospital doctor rests his head on his hand as he sits at a desk.
News

Share your experience of healthcare staff fatigue

26 March 2024

We’ve just launched an investigation to look at fatigue risk in healthcare and its impact on patient safety.
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Healthcare professionals in a busy hospital corridor.
News

Temporary NHS staff a ‘lost voice’ in crucial patient safety investigations

14 March 2024

Our latest investigation has found that not involving temporary NHS staff in serious incident investigations may ‘undermine’ its ability to improve patient safety.
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A surgical team wearing blue scrubs perform an operation in a hospital theatre.
Blog

Elective care recovery: taking a systems approach

5 March 2024

Senior Safety Investigator, Neil Alexander, blogs about the challenges facing the NHS in tackling the elective care backlog and how learning from our investigation reports may be able to help the NHS…
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A male patient's hand rests on a nurse call button in a hospital bed
News

New learning report brings together learning on patient misidentification

8 February 2024

Our latest report reiterates that the misidentification of patients remains a persistent safety risk across the NHS but is one that is under-recognised and under-researched.
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An anaesthetist performs a nasotracheal intubation of a child.
News

New report charts safety risks associated with managing patients with known ‘difficult airways’ in emergency situations

25 January 2024

Our latest report shows improvement is needed at a national level in the communication, preparation and planning for patients who may have ‘a difficult airway’ – that is the anatomy of their mouth, t…
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An illustration showing the many parts that make up the healthcare system, including healthcare staff, diagnostics, medication and different services like emergency care.
Blog

The investigator's toolkit: SEIPS

17 January 2024

Continuing our series of blogs that look at the range of investigation methods we use, Deinniol Owens and Dr Helen Vosper highlight how SEIPS can be the investigator’s ‘swiss army knife’ when plannin…
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News

Reflecting on three months as HSSIB

21 December 2023

This week marks three months since an event was held at Kings College London to formally recognise our formal establishment as the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB).
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A female pharmacist stands behind a pharmacy counter using a desktop computer. Medicines line the shelves behind her.
Blog

Electronic patient record systems: recurring themes arising from safety investigations

19 December 2023

Senior Safety Investigator, Helen Jones, blogs about some of the key benefits and risks of electronic patient record (EPR) systems used in healthcare, sharing what we are learning from our safety inv…
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An older male patient talks to a GP, sat either side of a desk in a consulting room.
News

Change needed in how GP continuity of care is prioritised at a national level

30 November 2023

Making continuity of care an ‘essential requirement’ for GP practices could reduce the risk of a delay in diagnosing serious health conditions, and ease significant pressure on GP’s workload and welf…
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A nurse speaks to a cancer patient.
News

Investigation explores risk of patients not receiving crucial medication through a portable medical device

14 November 2023

Alarms on a portable medical device may not notify staff that medication is not being delivered as it should, creating a ‘hazardous situation’ and increasing the risk of harm to patients.
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A nurse helps an older male patient to stand up from his hospital bed.
News

New report shows needs of learning disability patients ‘not consistently met’ when they are in hospital

2 November 2023

Despite national efforts to address inequity, the health and care system is not always meeting the needs of people with a learning disability when they are cared for in hospital, says our latest repo…
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Blog

The impact of menopause on mental health

30 October 2023

Amber Sargent and Helen Jones blog about the patient safety issues that arise when the impact of menopause on mental health is not considered during clinical assessments.
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News

Our response to the Care Quality Commission State of Care report 2022/23

20 October 2023

State of Care is the annual assessment of healthcare and social care in England by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
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200 guests sit watching panel speakers in a large hall.
News

HSSIB officially launches with aim to drive radical change in patient safety

18 October 2023

As our newly formed investigation body officially launched today, clear messages came from our leadership team that we will aim to drive ‘radical’ change in how patient safety is managed across healt…
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News

Report explores ‘proactive and integrated approach’ to managing safety in healthcare

18 October 2023

Today we publish our first report as the Health Services Safety Investigations Body, exploring the use of safety management systems and how they could contribute to more effective safety management i…
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News

Philippa Styles appointed as Director of Investigations

16 October 2023

Philippa Styles will join our team shortly as Director of Investigations. This is a critical role within the leadership team, overseeing all investigations undertaken by the Health Services Safety In…
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HSIB legacy content
Blog

The importance of non-patient facing NHS services in patient safety

19 July 2023

Senior Safety Investigators Russell Evans and Craig Hadley highlight how behind-the-scenes services are crucial to help the NHS operate effectively and safely, in our latest blog.
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A healthcare professional looks at notes at the hospital bedside of a patient lying on a bed behind them.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Helping NHS staff to do their jobs: design of information in the workplace

29 June 2023

Senior Safety Investigators Clare Crowley and Nick Woodier blog about the simple but often overlooked measures that NHS staff and organisations can take to improve the design and display of informati…
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HSIB legacy content
Blog

The investigator's toolkit: Using Appreciative Inquiry in safety investigations

5 June 2023

In the first in a series of blogs looking at the range of investigation methods we use, Nichola Crust reflects on how Appreciative Inquiry can be used to examine patient safety and identify opportuni…
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A Norwegian ambulance drives with it's blue lights flashing along a road in Oslo.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Building an international network for patient safety investigation

4 May 2023

Our Chief Investigator, Rosie Benneyworth, writes about exciting developments in the world of international patient safety investigation.
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A female clinician sits at a desk using a desktop computer.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Failing to communicate: challenges with electronic communication systems

18 April 2023

Matt Mansbridge and Melanie Ottewill blog about the patient safety issues that arise when systems are unable to communicate with each other, as highlighted in three of our national investigations to …
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A tired surgeon sits on the floor of a hospital corridor with their head hanging down.
HSIB legacy content
Events

The impact of staff fatigue on patient safety: how do we manage the risk

17 March 2023

We facilitated a half-day event on 17 March 2023 to ask how healthcare can understand and start to manage the risk of staff fatigue.
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A Black male healthcare professional sits outside in front of a brick wall, drinking a coffee.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Starting the conversation around NHS staff fatigue and patient safety

8 March 2023

Laura Pickup blogs about NHS staff fatigue in the run up to World Sleep Day and our fatigue event on 17 March 2023.
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A member of intensive care staff wearing a face mask stands in front of an artificial lung ventilation monitor.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

The importance of equipment design in patient safety

10 January 2023

Laura Pickup blogs about equipment design in healthcare and asks whether NHS staff should be held accountable for the use of devices and equipment leading to patient safety events.
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People and healthcare staff look busy in a non-clinical area of a hospital ward.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

New opportunities for risk management

10 January 2023

Jonathan Back, Analyst, blogs about the opportunities the healthcare system has to adopt a proactive risk management approach to improve patient safety.
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Empty beds on a hospital ward looking out onto a green, landscaped courtyard garden.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

The impact of reorganising NHS services on patient safety

5 January 2023

Scott Hislop, Deputy Director of Investigations, looks at the challenges faced by the NHS when flexing to meet demands and how to mitigate potential risks to patient safety.
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A group of NHS doctors and nurses stand together on a hospital ward, talking and smiling .
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Supporting NHS staff involved in patient safety investigations

19 December 2022

In this blog, Matthew Wain highlights how NHS organisations can support staff with patient safety investigations, and more generally, in the face of increased pressure.
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Female doctor speaks to a male patient propped up on a hospital bed with two relatives sat at his bedside.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Maintaining family involvement in the face of winter pressures

6 December 2022

Louise Pye highlights how the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework can help NHS trusts involve patients and families in the face of extreme winter pressures.
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HSIB legacy content
Blog

Bill Kirkup speaks to HSIB staff about 'Reading the signals'

17 November 2022

Our Clinical Director of Maternity Investigations shares the details of a seminar delivered to HSIB staff by Dr Bill Kirkup CBE as part of our investigation education programme.
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A doctor wearing a stethoscope around their neck holds an iPad.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

PSIRF and the HSIB: supporting how the NHS responds to patient safety incidents

9 November 2022

In this blog Melanie Ottewill explains how our work is supporting the NHS to adopt a systems approach to local safety investigations through the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).
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Illustration of a man holding a giant pencil in front of an oversized calendar and alarm clock. He points at a gold star circled on the calendar.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

100 days at HSIB

9 November 2022

Dr Rosie Benneyworth reflects on her first 100 days leading HSIB as interim Chief Investigator.
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Medication stored in a weekly pill box.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

How patients’ voices can improve safety in the health service in relation to medicines and medical devices

8 November 2022

Following her seminar with HSIB staff last month, this guest blog post from Henrietta Hughes introduces her vision for her new role as Patient Safety Commissioner.
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HSIB legacy content
Blog

Reviewing our new powers and how they will impact you

11 October 2022

The Health and Care Act 2022 will establish HSIB as the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) in April 2023 - a fully independent arm’s-length body. In addition to our statutory independ…
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A doctor with a stethoscope around her neck talks to a patient.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

PSIRF: a fundamental shift in how the NHS responds to patient safety incidents

27 September 2022

As part of our investigation education seminar series for our staff, NHS England’s Tracey Herlihey, Head of Patient Safety Incident Response Policy and Lauren Mosley, Head of Patient Safety Implement…
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Blurry hospital ward
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Looking beyond the recommendation: building a holistic approach to safety improvement

8 September 2022

As part of our investigation education seminar series for our staff, healthcare improvement expert Professor Mary Dixon-Woods joined us for our August session. In this blog, Ian Lavery rounds-up her …
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A young couple sit together looking concerned, holding their baby.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

How we’ve worked with NHS England and Learn Together to help give families a voice

26 August 2022

Coinciding with the publication of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) by NHS England, Louise Pye, Head of Family Engagement at HSIB, reflects on her involvement in producing the s…
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Family comforting each other.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Integrating restorative justice into patient safety investigation

29 July 2022

As part of our investigation education lectures for HSIB staff, this month we welcomed Jo Wailling, Senior Research Fellow at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
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A Norwegian ambulance drives with it's blue lights flashing along a road in Oslo.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Knowledge exchange with Norway

28 June 2022

In 2017 HSIB was the first organisation in the world set up to improve patient safety through independent investigations without blame.Now we’re not alone though, as Norway were hot on our heels with…
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An older man lies on a bed with his worried wife sitting with him, holding his hand.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Zero avoidable deaths – an aspiration, not a target

8 June 2022

Melanie Ottewill, Senior Safety Investigator and Senior Investigation Science Educator, shares her thoughts on our internal seminar where our guest speaker was Jeremy Hunt MP.
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Two surgeons in an operating theatre
HSIB legacy content
Blog

The challenges associated with joint surgical care of patients

28 January 2022

Nick Woodier, Senior Safety Investigator, reflects on the challenges associated with joint surgical care of patients and shares learning that can aid the NHS and the private sector as new national ag…
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Button batteries.
HSIB legacy content
Blog

Reflecting on our button battery investigation

16 December 2021

As Christmas approaches, Senior Safety Investigator Helen Jones reflects on our button battery investigation and updates on what happened after the high-profile report was published.
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