Patients to anonymously log treatment concerns

As part of a strategy to be published next week, patients will be able to anonymously log concerns about their NHS treatment, via a phone app, as part of efforts to boost safety.

The creation of a centralised portal, allowing people to supply information about blunders they have experienced or witnessed, will, enable health officials to alert the rest of the NHS more quickly to risks of serious harm, and prevent tragedies being repeated. The database will also help experts to see trends and identify areas for improvement.

Patients, staff and families will be able to submit data to the system, helping the NHS to identify new insights to produce fresh lines of patient safety exploration. Details about individuals, such as their names and date of birth, will not be identifiable.

Caroline Dinenage, Care Minister, said: “This innovative new digital service for reporting and learning from incidents will provide a more holistic way of collecting and analysing vital data to help improve care right across the NHS.

“Our brilliant NHS staff have a vital role to play and this will empower them further, as well as giving every patient and their family a say on the safety of the care they receive. Patient safety is key to our Long Term Plan for the NHS and this approach will provide the NHS with new insight on how care and services can be improved, to make the NHS the safest healthcare system in the world.”