Duty of Candour Policy – patient summary
Being Open and Honest With You
At our GP practice, we believe in being open, honest, and transparent with all our patients. This is part of something called the Duty of Candour – a legal and ethical responsibility that all healthcare providers must follow.
What is the Duty of Candour?
The Duty of Candour means that if something goes wrong with your care or treatment and it causes you harm (or could have caused significant harm), we will:
· Tell you openly and honestly what happened
· Say sorry
· Explain what went wrong and why
· Discuss what we’re doing to put things right and prevent it from happening again
· Keep you updated as we investigate the issue
Why is this important?
We understand that trust is essential in healthcare. If mistakes happen – and sometimes they do – we won’t hide them. We’ll treat you with honesty and respect, and support you throughout the process.
What happens if something goes wrong?
If an incident occurs:
1. We will contact you as soon as possible.
2. A senior team member will explain what happened.
3. You will be involved in any discussions or investigations if you wish.
4. We will apologise and share the actions we are taking to learn and improve.
Your Rights
You have the right to:
· Be told when something has gone wrong
· Receive a meaningful apology
· Be involved in decisions about your care
How to Raise a Concern
If you have any concerns about your care, please let us know. You can:
· Speak to our Practice Manager
· Call the practice on 01332 880249
· Write to us or use our feedback form available via the practice website
We take all concerns seriously and will respond in line with our complaints and feedback policy.