HEALTHCARE organisations throughout West Dunbartonshire have had a statutory duty of candour slapped on them as of April 1.

From the start of this month they must be open and honest with patients when something goes wrong and to offer them an apology, explains the Medical Defence Union (MDU).

The duty which will apply widely across all health and social care organisations in West Dunbartonshire, including NHS Boards, NHS hospitals, private hospitals and clinics, GP services and dental surgeries, places a requirement upon them to be open and honest, apologise and try to learn from things that have gone wrong.

In order to improve the quality of service to patients, there is also a requirement to share learning from incidents.

The new duty of candour procedure is technical and complex, so the MDU has issued guidance to its members.

Dr Michael Devlin, MDU head of professional standards and liaison said: “For very many years we have advised our members to let patients know as soon as something goes wrong and to apologise if appropriate, explaining what has happened and what they are going to do to put it right.”

The new duty is complex in how it will operate and doctors are urged to find out if there organisations are offering training to help implement the procedures.

Dr Devlin added:“Doctors will need to continue to inform patients in the usual way any time anything goes wrong, in accordance with GMC guidance.”