RCN: NHS staff need support when apologising for errors

The NHS needs to create a culture where staff feel they can be open when mistakes are made, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).

Responding to calls from health secretary Jeremy Hunt's for doctors and nurses to apologise to patients when things go wrong, the RCN offered a reminder that NHS leaders need to play their part in making this happen.

New guidance from the NHS Litigation Authority recommends that staff make face-to-face apologies to patients as soon as they are aware an incident has occurred, but in many cases, staff feel they will not be supported if they do so.

As such, Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said local managers and leaders must contribute to an environment where workers feel confident and empowered about their ability and authority to deal with the concerns of patients.

He added: "The vast majority of NHS staff aim to provide the best possible care to every patient, and when this does not happen they naturally want to apologise and learn from the experience."

This comes after the government recently announced plans to introduce a statutory duty of candour for organisations which provide care, in response to the findings of the Francis Report.