Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch
Our purpose is to improve patient safety through effective and independent investigations that don’t apportion blame or liability.
Tell us about a patient safety concern
Link to page with safety awareness formAbout us
We conduct independent investigations of patient safety concerns in NHS-funded care across England. The safety recommendations we make aim to improve healthcare systems and processes in order to reduce risk and improve safety.
HSIB is funded by the Department of Health & Social Care and hosted by NHS England and NHS Improvement. We hope that when parliamentary time allows, we will be established as an independent public body.
Wrong site surgery – wrong patient
We have started an investigation looking at the risks involved in the correct identification of patients in outpatient departments.
Correct identification is crucial to make sure patients receive the right clinical procedure.
A review of NHS national reporting systems triggered the investigation. Evidence found suggests that incorrect identification of patients is a contributory factor to patients receiving the wrong procedure.
Latest news / view all
HSIB investigators to stop visiting trusts to help reduce spread of coronavirus
Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we have decided to stop face to face meetings at healthcare providers until further notice. We will review our approach regularly to support colleagues at the frontline of healthcare services.
Investigations
We undertake patient safety investigations through two programmes - national investigations and maternity investigations. In our national programme we investigate up to 30 patient safety concerns each year in order to provide meaningful safety recommendations.
Our teams work closely with patients, families and healthcare staff affected by patient safety incidents and we never attribute blame or liability to individuals.
We welcome information about patient safety concerns from everyone, including patients and their families, the public, NHS staff and organisations.