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 2025
Key revisions in the 2025 policy include:
- A focus on the importance of support for patients/service users, their relevant person and staff, to support those impacted by an incident and to help prevent compounded harm
- The procedures our staff need to ensure they are able to deliver on the requirements of the policy. Many incidents span over several teams and services and we must support one another in open disclosure to provide the patient/service user and/or their family with the most comprehensive and supportive experience across health and social care services at such difficult times
We revised our Open Disclosure Policy in 2025 and this version: “Communicating with Patients Following Patient Safety or Notifiable Incidents” replaces the HSE Open Disclosure Policy 2019.
More information about the Open Disclosure Policy 2025 is available in the following resources:
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:
- Guidance documents and resources for the Patient Safety Act can be found on Resources for staff and organisations.
- 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
- Information on the Patient Safety Act can be found in Patient Safety (Notifiable Incidents and Open Disclosure) Act 2023
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, Open Disclosure and NIMS
Róisín Egenton, General Manager, Incident Management / Open Disclosure
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
Please note: if you are a patient, service user or family member with a query or concern about the open disclosure process following an incident, we would encourage you to contact the person or organisation responsible for providing your care.
For comments, compliments or complaints about a health or social care service, see Complaints and Feedback.