Duty of Candour (Scotland)

On the 1st of April 2018, the Duty of Candour law came into effect throughout Scotland. This means that care providers are not only required to provide the best care possible, but that they are now bound by law to be honest and apologise for any mistakes that have occurred. All care providers working in Scotland must be honest, sincere and upfront with the people they care for, as well as their families.  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. On the 1st of April 2018, the Duty of Candour law came into effect throughout Scotland. This means that care providers are not only required to provide the best care possible, but that they are now bound by law to be honest and apologise for any mistakes that have occurred. All care providers working in Scotland must be honest, sincere and upfront with the people they care for, as well as their families. 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.