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.
Delayed recognition of acute aortic dissection
Up to half of all patients who suffer an acute aortic dissection may die before reaching crucial specialist care.
Acute aortic dissection is a relatively rare but life-threatening condition which requires rapid recognition and urgent treatment in a specialist centre.
Our investigation identifies a number of risks in the diagnostic process which might result in the condition being missed.
We’ve made two safety recommendations as a result of this investigation.
Latest news / view all
Earlier recognition of aortic dissection needed to prevent deaths
Up to half of all patients who suffer an acute aortic dissection may die before reaching crucial specialist care, according to our new report. The report highlights the difficulty which can face hospital staff in recognising acute aortic dissection. As a result, two safety recommendations have been made.
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.