Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson, John Broughton, assistant chief constable, Essex Police and Sandra Caldwell, director of field operations at the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), have launched a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to help ensure that investigations into serious patient safety incidents are conducted in a consistent and well co-ordinated manner that leads to effective learning.
The protocol will take effect in circumstances of unexpected death or serious untoward harm, involving NHS patients being treated in either NHS or independent sector hospitals, requiring investigation by the police, HSE or the police and the HSE jointly.
This will normally be the case if an incident has arisen from or involves criminal intent, recklessness and/or gross negligence or, in the context of health and safety, involves a work-related death or serious injury. By definition, these incidents will be serious and may have significant public safety implications.
