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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The impact of staff fatigue on patient safety

Staff fatigue contributes directly and indirectly to patient harm. Yet fatigue is not routinely considered in patient safety event reporting or learning reviews. We share safety recommendations and learning for healthcare organisations to increase their understanding of staff fatigue.

Read the fatigue report
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Workforce and patient safety: primary and community care co-ordination for people with long-term conditions

During our investigation we found there is a considerable burden placed on patients and their loved ones to co-ordinate their care. Our safety recommendations aim to ensure that patients have co-ordinated care plans with effective communication between services and a single point of contact.

Read the care co-ordination report
A young woman with a pained expression lies in an ambulance with her eyes closed while two paramedics treat her.

12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) in ambulance services: paramedic education, training and competence

An ECG needs to be correctly carried out and accurately interpreted to determine the patient’s condition and potential diagnosis. We call for more consistency in the way paramedics are educated and trained to carry out and interpret ECGs of patients who could be critically ill.

Read the ECG 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

Portrait of a male paramedic wearing a bright yellow jacket.

HSSIB responds to growing number of violent assaults against ambulance staff

The Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) has this week published data that shows the number of violent incidents against UK ambulance staff has reached 22,500 a year for the first time ev…
Read the full article
A young burnt out doctor sits resting his chin on his hands.

Report warns NHS staff fatigue is still not recognised as a serious risk to patient safety

Fatigue amongst NHS healthcare staff poses a significant yet under-recognised risk to patient safety, says our latest investigation report.
Read the full article
A district nurse cares for an elderly man with a head injury in his living room at home.

Frequent failures in co-ordinating care for patients with long-term health issues

A lack of co-ordination of care for people with long-term health conditions is taking a toll on patients and carers. As a result they experience burnout, distress and harm, says our latest report.
Read the full article