Health Services Safety Investigations Body

We investigate patient safety concerns across England to improve NHS care at a national level.

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Latest investigation reports

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Investigating under the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF): sharing HSSIB learning for future development

NHS staff have been positive about the impact that the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) can have on patient safety. However, more resource and support is needed to ensure PSIRF is implemented consistently across England.

Read the PSIRF report
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Summary report: an exploratory review of maternity and neonatal services

This report is a summary of information we collected during an exploratory
review of maternity and neonatal services in spring 2025 This review involved meetings with 17 stakeholders and a review of 35 safety concerns submitted to HSSIB.

Read the maternity report
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Medication not given: discharge from an acute hospital to the community

Medication is the most common intervention for patients in the NHS. In the most serious cases, delayed and missed medication can cause catastrophic effects. We highlight the importance of information sharing between services to ensure patients are confident in medication self-administration.

Read the medication not given report

About us

We aim to be the global leader in professional, high quality healthcare safety investigations. We investigate patient safety concerns across England to improve NHS care at a national level. Our investigations do not find blame or liability with individuals or organisations. Information shared with us is confidential and protected by law.


We are a fully independent arm’s length body of the Department of Health and Social Care.

Find out more about us
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Investigations

We can investigate patient safety concerns that occur in England during the provision of healthcare services, and that have or may have implications for the safety of patients.

Our investigations can consider healthcare provided in the NHS and the independent sector. Where an investigation relates to an incident that did not occur in the NHS, we must consider whether NHS systems and practices could be improved because of our investigation.


We can also be directed to investigate a patient safety concern by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

View our patient safety investigations
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Education

Our CPD accredited education programme is delivered by healthcare safety investigation experts.


We offer a range of courses to support development and help embed professional safety investigations across the NHS. For NHS staff in England, courses run online and are free of charge to attend. Courses are also available to fee paying learners outside of the NHS in England.


Our flagship course – A systems approach to investigating and learning from patient safety incidents – launches new cohorts throughout the year.

Enrol on a course

News, events and blogs

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Report highlights healthcare staff have welcomed shift under patient safety incident investigation framework

Our latest report has found that NHS staff have been positive about the impact that the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) can have on patient safety. However, it also reveals that mo…
Read the full article
Close-up view of the back doors of an ambulance, against a grey sky. The blue emergency lights are switched on.

HSSIB impact: life-saving difference for acute aortic dissection patients

To mark Global Aortic Dissection Awareness Day, Gareth Owens from the national patient charity blogs about the impact two HSSIB reports have had, with hundreds more people now receiving life-saving e…
Read the full article
The logo for World Patient Safety Day 2025.

WHO calls for safe care for every newborn and every child

Today – 17 September 2025 – is World Patient Safety Day. Led by the World Health Organization (WHO), it’s an opportunity to raise public awareness, foster collaboration between organisations and mobi…
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