Duty of Candour

Understanding the Duty of Candour at Skin Surgeons

The Duty of Candour is a legal obligation that requires health and social care providers to be open and transparent when unintended or unexpected harm occurs during patient care. At Skin Surgeons, we are fully committed to this duty, ensuring that our practices align with the highest standards of honesty and transparency as guided by the General Medical Council (GMC) and the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS).

 

Our Statutory and Organisational Procedures

  1. Identification and Immediate Action: Any event resulting in, or with the potential to result in, unintended harm to a patient is promptly identified and acted upon. This ensures that immediate steps are taken to mitigate any further risk.

  2. Direct Communication: Patients or their families are informed about the incident as soon as possible. A sincere apology is provided, ensuring that communication is clear, compassionate, and supportive.

  3. Thorough Investigation and Organisational Learning: Comprehensive investigations are conducted to determine the root causes of incidents. This process is crucial for implementing changes that prevent recurrence and for enhancing our organisational learning protocols. The insights gained are used to continuously improve our practices and patient safety measures.

  4. Patient and Staff Support Systems: Support is provided to patients and their families affected by the incident. Additionally, our staff are given the necessary support and are encouraged to participate in learning and improvement initiatives, fostering a culture of openness and continuous improvement.

  5. Documentation and Annual Disclosure: All Duty of Candour incidents are meticulously documented. We publish an annual Duty of Candour report on our website, detailing the nature of incidents, outcomes of investigations, and the improvements made. This report is part of our commitment to transparency and accountability.

Our Commitment

At Skin Surgeons, fostering a culture of honesty and openness is paramount. By rigorously adhering to the statutory and organisational Duty of Candour requirements, we aim to maintain the highest levels of trust and safety in the services we provide. Our dedication to these principles ensures that we not only comply with legal obligations but also build and maintain the trust of our patients and the broader community.

By embedding these practices into our daily operations, we strive to deliver exceptional care and ensure that any issues are handled with the utmost integrity and transparency. This commitment to the Duty of Candour reinforces our pledge to prioritize patient safety and continuous improvement in all aspects of our service.