NHS safety recommendations accepted in new government report

The government has published Learning not Blaming, its full response to the recent Freedom to Speak Up consultation, in which it has accepted a number of measures aimed at improving NHS safety.

Following on from the Public Administration Select Committee's (PASC's) report on investigating clinical incidents in the NHS and the Morecambe Bay Foundation Trust Investigation, the new document has committed to implementing several steps to prevent a repeat of historic care failings.

These include removing the Nursing and Midwifery Council's current responsibility for statutory supervision in the UK in favour of a model of professional supervision similar to that of other health professionals.

Meanwhile, a full-scale review into current maternity services and provision has begun across the country, while whistleblowing training is being provided for all healthcare workers.

Health secretary Jeremy Hunt also accepted the PASC's recommendation for a new independent NHS patient safety investigation service to begin in April 2016.

Mr Hunt said: "Modelled on the air accident investigation branch used by the airline industry, this will be central to the 'no blame' learning culture which has led to dramatic safety improvements in aviation."