Duty of Candour (England)

Delivering the best care possible is the aim of every health and social care provider. However, there are times that unintentional or accidental incidents can occur which can cause different levels of harm. Since the Francis Report and the Care Act (2014), the Duty of Candour Procedure has been made a legal requirement. This means that it is important to be open and honest with any people involved in such an accident or their family, explain what has happened and what the next steps are in the Duty of Candour procedure. The NHS Trust states that 'open and effective communication with patients begins at the start of their care and should continue throughout their time within the healthcare system. This should be no different when a patient safety incident occurs, when a patient makes a complaint, or in the case of a lawsuit, claim or litigation' (NHS Trust, 2015). This course will help you to understand what the Duty of Candour procedure is, the benefits of being open and honest and what steps to take should you ever be in the position to use the training.