Duty of Candour

Date Effective: 01/03/2023

Review Date: 01/03/2026

Version No: 1.1

Policy Owner / Author: Kim Wills – Director

1. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to ensure that Aesthetic Attraction Ltd operates with openness, honesty, and transparency when unintended or unexpected incidents occur. The policy promotes trust, effective communication, and learning from incidents to prevent future harm and improve patient care.

 

2. Scope

This policy applies to:

• All clinical and administrative staff, including those working under practising privileges.
• All situations involving unintended or unexpected incidents during treatment or care that result in harm, death, or require additional treatment to prevent harm.

 

3. Definitions

• Unintended or Unexpected Incident: An event during care or treatment that causes harm or has the potential to cause harm that was not anticipated.
• Harm: Physical, emotional, or psychological injury, or additional treatment required to prevent further injury.
• Affected Person: The patient, and where appropriate, family members or carers.

 

4. Responsibilities

• All Staff:
  • Notify the manager/director of any incident immediately.
  • Communicate openly, honestly, and compassionately with the affected person.
  • Document the incident accurately and promptly.
  • Participate in incident review and follow-up processes.
• Manager / Director (Kerri Morrison):
  • Ensure staff are trained in duty of candour procedures.
  • Oversee incident reviews, investigations, and learning processes.
  • Prepare and maintain the annual duty of candour report.

 

5. Duty of Candour Procedure

When an unintended or unexpected incident occurs, staff must follow these steps:

1. Notification: Inform the affected person as soon as reasonably possible.
2. Apology: Provide a clear and sincere apology for the incident.
3. Review: Conduct a thorough review of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
4. Meeting (if appropriate): Offer a meeting with the affected person and/or their family to discuss the incident.
5. Provide an Account: Explain what happened, why it happened, and the immediate steps taken.
6. Future Actions: Provide information about any corrective actions and measures to prevent recurrence.
7. Support: Ensure emotional and professional support is available to staff involved.
8. Documentation: Record all communications, actions, and outcomes accurately in the patient record and incident log.

Timeframes: Staff should notify management immediately and communicate with the affected person without unnecessary delay.

 

6. Staff Training

• All staff will receive duty of candour training on induction and annually.
• Training includes recognising incidents, communicating effectively, documentation, and emotional support.

 

7. Monitoring and Reporting

• Incidents and actions taken will be reviewed quarterly.
• An annual duty of candour report will summarise incidents, actions taken, and lessons learned.
• Findings will inform quality improvement initiatives and training updates.

 

8. Non-Compliance

Failure to follow this policy may result in:

• Loss of trust with patients and families.
• Regulatory or legal action by Healthcare Improvement Scotland or professional bodies.
• Disciplinary action for staff members.

 

9. References

• Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016
• Duty of Candour Procedure (Scotland) Regulations 2018
• Healthcare Improvement Scotland: Organisational Duty of Candour Guidance: Link
• Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Conduct
• UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018

Date: 01/09/2025

Reporting Period: 1st September 2024 – 31st August 2025

Prepared By: Kerri Morrison, Manager/Director

1. Introduction

Aesthetic Attraction Ltd is committed to openness, transparency, and learning from any incidents that occur in the provision of our healthcare services. The Duty of Candour under the Health (Tobacco, Nicotine etc. and Care) (Scotland) Act 2016 and the Duty of Candour Procedure (Scotland) Regulations 2018 requires organisations to notify, apologise, and engage with patients if an unintended or unexpected incident results in harm or additional treatment.

This report summarises Duty of Candour activity within Aesthetic Attraction Ltd for the reporting period.

 

2. Incidents Requiring Duty of Candour

During the reporting period:

Category	Number Recorded
Patient complaints related to unintended or unexpected incidents	0
Serious adverse events (including harm requiring additional treatment)	0
Patient deaths	0

No incidents occurred that triggered the organisational Duty of Candour during the reporting period.

 

3. Staff Training and Awareness

All staff members, including those working under practising privileges, have received:

• Induction training on Duty of Candour procedures.
• Annual refresher training covering recognition of incidents, reporting procedures, patient communication, and documentation.
• Reinforcement of principles of openness, honesty, and learning from incidents.

 

4. Learning and Quality Improvement

Even in the absence of incidents, Aesthetic Attraction Ltd continues to:

• Monitor patient feedback and engagement to identify potential risks.
• Maintain robust clinical and administrative processes to prevent harm.
• Audit compliance with all relevant policies, including Consent, Safeguarding, Privacy & Dignity, and Duty of Candour.
• Ensure all staff remain aware of their responsibility to act promptly if an incident occurs.

 

5. Future Actions

For the coming year, Aesthetic Attraction Ltd will:

• Continue quarterly audits of all policies and procedures.
• Maintain staff training and awareness programmes.
• Continue monitoring patient feedback and clinical safety indicators.
• Update this report annually, regardless of incidents, to demonstrate ongoing compliance with the Duty of Candour.