The new statutory duty of candour was introduced for NHS bodies in England (trusts, foundation trusts and special health authorities) from 27 November 2014, and will apply to all other care providers registered with CQC from 1 April 2015. Today the guidance is being introduced for individual professionals.
2020health’s Top Messages:
- Honesty and integrity are essential to trust
- Candour is crucial for both public and professionals – building trust and learning from mistakes only happens with honesty and integrity
- No one is empowered if the truth is not shared
Our concerns – clinical and political:
Whilst the first two principles of candour could be applied proactively, it is clear from principle three onwards that this right to candour only exists retrospectively for patients. But what about our right to all the information and options up front?
2020health wants to see the right for the public to be more fully informed of their options for treatment as well as potential risks shared AHEAD of making choices, including treatment options not available on the NHS.
Julia Manning, CEO of 2020health said: “Candour is crucial for both public and professionals, and the sooner mistakes are recognised and addressed, the better for all. Building trust and learning from mistakes only happens with honesty and integrity. However we want to see this duty go further, and for informed consent ahead of treatment to be more comprehensive in terms the sharing of choices of treatment, including treatment not available on the NHS. The we will have honesty on all sides.”
You can hear Julia’s comments on Candour on BBC Radio London94.9 this morning (You can hear the clip on 2020health’s webpage)
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