Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) is the new way that the NHS looks at learning from patient safety incidents. It has replaced the Serious Incident Framework (SIF, 2015) and represents a significant shift in the way the NHS responds to patient safety incidents.

PSIRF aims to provide a more flexible, transparent, and compassionate approach to learning responses and investigation. They will have a focus on understanding the different factors that contributed to incidents and ensure that organisations learn from them.

The four aims of PSIRF are:

1. Compassionate engagement and involvement of those affected by patient safety incidents. 
2. Application of a range of system-based approaches to influence learning from patient safety incidents. 
3. Considered and proportionate responses to patient safety incidents. 
4. Supportive oversight focused on strengthening response system functioning and improvement. 

Some incidents will qualify for a Patient Safety Incident Investigation (PSII) but there will be others where alternative responses will be indicated. PSIRF aims to reduce the time investigations take, to ensure patients and families get answers more quickly and that actions are taken immediately to reduce future harm.

In some cases, where it is already clear why the incident happened, it will be more appropriate to concentrate on making safety improvements rather than spending more time on investigations.

Policy and Plan

We are required to publish two key documents to explain how we will meet the requirements of PSIRF - a PSIRF Policy and Plan.

Since our initial PSIRF Plan was launched in April 2024, we have reviewed how effective it has been and are now pleased to confirm publication of an updated Plan document.

• PSIRF Policy
• PSIRF Plan 2026 - 2027