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Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety
All doctors have a duty to act when they believe patients’ safety is at risk, or that patients’ care or dignity is being compromised.
Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety (2012) sets out our expectation that all doctors will, whatever their role, take appropriate action to raise and act on concerns about patient care, dignity and safety.
The guidance came into effect on 12 March 2012 and replaces Raising concerns about patient safety (2006), (pdf).
Read the guidance online or open a pdf version of Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety (179kb, pdf).
The guidance is separated into two parts.
- Part 1: Raising a concern gives advice on raising a concern that patients might be at risk of serious harm, and on the help and support available to doctors.
- Part 2: Acting on a concern explains doctors’ responsibilities when colleagues or others raise concerns with them and how those concerns should be handled.