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

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
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Medication not given: anticoagulation before and after a procedure

We examine a patient safety event involving an 87-year-old man on anticoagulation medication and outline learning prompts for NHS trusts. The report demonstrates the highly complex nature of clinical decision-making, and why a ‘systems’ view is necessary to improve medication safety.

Read the medication not given report
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Safety management: accountability across organisational boundaries

There are no overarching principles that all health and care providers and integrated care boards can use which enable a consistent approach to safety management. This creates a difference in understanding between organisations, including accountability for patient safety within organisations.

Read the safety management 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.

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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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Our response to ‘The Safety Gap’ report

A new report from the Patient Safety Commissioner shows that people with sensory impairment experience a safety gap with medicines and medical devices.
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A young woman with a pained expression lies in an ambulance with her eyes closed while two paramedics treat her.

Report highlights concerning variation in paramedic ECG education and training

HSSIB’s latest report calls 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 full article
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HSSIB celebrates making the shortlist for HSJ Digital Awards 2025

We are very pleased to announce that the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) has been shortlisted in the ‘Digital Clinical Safety Award’ category at the HSJ Digital Awards 2025.
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