THE MDDUS public affairs and communications team is tracking the progress of the Health Service Safety Investigation Bill, which aims to enable safe spaces for healthcare staff to speak freely to investigators. The Bill was introduced in the Lords, and had its second reading on Tuesday 29 October.
A key aspect of the Bill is to establish the Health Service Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) as an independent legal organisation. HSSIB will investigate NHS patient safety incidents and identify risks to help NHS bodies to improve patient safety.
It seems likely that the triggering of a General Election on 12 December will mean this Bill will fall in the current Parliament. However, as it was introduced in the Lords there is a prospect of it returning when there’s a new government in place.
With that in mind, MDDUS plans to develop a plan to brief Peers on our remaining concerns around the creation of safe spaces as proposed in the Bill to ensure our views are known and where possible reflected if the Bill is granted Parliamentary time following the election.
This page was correct at the time of publication. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.