Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)
The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) is the new way that the NHS looks at patient safety incidents. It has replaced the Serious Incident Framework (SIF) and represents a significant shift in the way the NHS responds to patient safety incidents.
- Publication date:
- 08 November 2024
- Date range:
- October 2024 - April 2025
What is PSIRF?
The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) is the new way that the NHS looks at patient safety incidents, also known as patient safety events. It has replaced the Serious Incident Framework (SIF) and represents a significant shift in the way the NHS responds to patient safety events.
PSIRF supports the development and maintenance of an effective patient safety event response system. This will lead to more compassionate engagement for everyone affected by patient safety events and give staff more space for reflection.
An important factor of the PSIRF is understanding how patient safety events happen. This allows us to learn and improve, creating a safer care system for patients and service users. The 4 key aims of the PSIRF are:
- Compassionate engagement and involvement of those affected by patient safety incidents
- Application of a range of system-based approached to learning from patient safety incidents
- Considered and proportionate responses to patient safety incidents
- Supportive oversight focused on strengthening response system functioning and improvement
Watch the video below to learn more.
Our trust's PSIRF plan
Our PSIRF plan aims to provide guidance and clarity on how we'll respond to patient safety incidents. Read the documents below for more information.
Learn more about PSIRF
Read more about PSIRF on the NHS England website.