Open Disclosure themed week takes place from Monday 7 October to 11 October 2024. The purpose of the themed week is to raise awareness of the importance of open disclosure for staff, patients and people who use our services all of whom have a crucial role to play in open disclosure and in improving patient safety.
In addition to this, Themed Week this year is an opportunity to support staff with the implementation of the requirements of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incident and Open Disclosure) Act 2023.
An overview of the Patient Safety Act
The Patient Safety Act seeks to strengthen openness and transparency throughout the Irish health care system. It aims to do this through the introduction of a legal duty to disclose key information about a specified list of incidents called 'notifiable incidents' when they are identified as having occurred in a health service.
This new Act requires health services providers to be open and transparent with patients, their families, or both, depending on the patient's choice, when a notifiable incident happens while the patient is receiving care.
The Act outlines a clear process for open disclosure, ensuring that patients, their families, or both, receive truthful and timely information in any healthcare setting when a notifiable incident happens.
It is essential, for the delivery of safe, high-quality healthcare, that we nurture a culture of openness and trust when an incident occurs. The introduction of this Act builds on the HSE Open Disclosure Policy and the successes of the Open Disclosure Programme and its aim is to deliver a person-centred approach to incident management and communication.
There is also a module on HSeLand that offers an overview and guidance of the Act. This can be found by searching the catalogue for ‘Patient Safety Act’ on HSeLand.
How can you get involved?
The HSE National Open Disclosure team have developed a series resources. These resources can be used to support you and your activates in your service. The activities will help raise awareness for the importance of open disclosure. Throughout the week the National Open Disclosure team will attend events in services across the country.
Last year, many services around the country hosted:
- stands
- engagement activities
- training events
- competitions
Get in contact
If you are using X (Twitter) or LinkedIn to promote your activities please tag us in your posts so we can share the work in your service.
Throughout the week the National Open Disclosure Team will be sharing videos on open disclosure and the new Patient Safety Act.
If you would like to contact the National Open Disclosure team you can email opendisclosure.office@hse.ie
You can also use the hashtag #OpenDisclosureWeek2024.