Purpose
Develop and implement effective, person centred incident management (IM) and open disclosure (OD) frameworks/policies, processes and procedures which support staff to practice safely, including identifying and reporting safety incidents and managing and improving patient safety in a positive learning culture. Inform the wider system on key areas of focus from analysis and facilitate the sharing of learning.
Open disclosure means that we will communicate with you in an open, honest, timely and transparent manner if:
- something goes wrong with your care
- you experience harm as a result of your care
- we think that harm may have occurred as a result of your care
This means that we will keep you fully informed of the facts in relation to what has happened. We will also talk to you about your on-going care and treatment.
HSE Open Disclosure policy
Under the revised policy you have a right to:
- full knowledge about your care and treatment
- be informed when things go wrong
- meet with us to discuss what happened
- a sincere apology if we made an error while caring for you
- be treated with compassion and empathy
We revised our Open Disclosure policy in 2019 and this version: “Communicating with Patients Following Patient Safety Incidents” replaces the HSE Open Disclosure Policy 2013.
Draft HSE Open Disclosure Policy - 2024 Consultation
We invite you to partake in the consultation on the draft HSE Open Disclosure Policy 2024.
The draft HSE Open Disclosure Policy 2024 has incorporated national developments such as the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incident and Open Disclosure) Act 2023, the National Open Disclosure Framework, Sláintecare and international developments by the World Health Organisation. The draft HSE Open Disclosure Policy 2024 also focuses on the importance of support for patients/service users, their family and staff.
We welcome all stakeholders to participate in the consultation of the draft policy.
How to respond
We have set up a dedicated survey to manage comments and responses to this consultation.
Access the policy documentation on surveys.hse.ie. You will be able to add your views on each of the questions posed in relation to this.
You can also submit material for consideration, for example documents that cannot be uploaded to the survey, to opendisclosure.office@hse.ie .
The consultation will run until 30th of September, 2024.
Let us know if you require any support accessing the documents by emailing our office opendisclosure.office@hse.ie.
Education and training
Open Disclosure training is mandatory for all staff working in the HSE and HSE funded services.
Further information on the training available and Open Disclosure mandatory training requirements is available via the links below:
- Mandatory training requirements and how to access training
- Information and Resources for Open Disclosure Trainers
- Webinars
Open Disclosure legislation
Information and related documents on:
- The Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 202 - irishstatutebook.ie
- Section 82 of the Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023 makes amendment to the Civil Liability (Amendment) Act 2017 and both need to be read together to see the amendments in full.
COVID-19 Open Disclosure guidelines
Guideline for staff and services on managing open disclosure and the communication challenges arising during the Coronavirus Pandemic.
National Open Disclosure steering committee
The HSE National Open Disclosure Steering Committee (ODSC) was established in April 2019, to strengthen corporate oversight, strategic leadership and accountability with the ongoing implementation of the National Open Disclosure programme and policy. For further information and documentation for this Committee please see the National Open Disclosure Steering Committee page.
Information and resources
- Information and Resources for the public
- Information and Resources for Staff and Organisations
- Information and Resources on Staff Support
- National Open Disclosure Leads
Annual reports and newsletters
Access our Annual Reports and Newsletters
Connect with us
If you wish to contact the National Open Disclosure Office, please email opendisclosure.office@hse.ie
Lorraine Schwanberg, Assistant National Director Incident Management
Ellie Southgate, National Open Disclosure Manager, National Open Disclosure Office
Mary Friel, Trainer & Educator, National Open Disclosure Office
Kelly McDyer, Trainer & Educator, National Open Disclosure Office