Framework aims to promote open communication among patients, families and staff

Stormont Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a new framework aimed at promoting open communication between patients, families and staff.

He said the Being Open Framework comes after several public inquiries over recent decades highlighted systemic failings within health and social care, particularly around openness, transparency and accountability.

In a statement to the Assembly, Mr Nesbitt said these inquiries “consistently recommended fostering a culture of openness and candour to improve patient safety and to help rebuild public confidence”.

He said a public consultation heard “overwhelming support” for the framework.

Implementation is set to start in April.

Mr Nesbitt also said most consultation responses backed the introduction of a statutory duty of candour.

He said his department is “progressing two important strands of work in this area”, and seeking to “align Northern Ireland with the other UK nations in relation to both an organisational and an individual duty of candour”.

Mr Nesbitt said: “Embedding an open and just learning culture is essential to help rebuild and restore public confidence and trust, and to improve patient safety, quality of care, and staff wellbeing.

“All of the policy commitments in this package need to be seen in the context of learning and thereby reducing the likelihood of any recurrence of the quality failings.

“It is clear that cultural change is a journey and cannot be achieved immediately – it demands sustained commitment, ownership, and leadership at local organisational level, and with strong continued support from the department.

“My department and HSC organisations remain fully committed to this journey, ensuring that openness, transparency, and learning become hallmarks of our health and social care system.”