Duty of Candour

The clinic is committed to a culture of openness and honesty. If an unintended or unexpected incident occurs that results in, or has the potential to result in, significant harm, the Duty of Candour procedure will be followed without delay. This includes informing the patient or their family, providing an explanation, offering an apology, and supporting them throughout the process.

In line with the Duty of Candour legislation, the clinic will:

• Inform patients and/or their families when a duty of candour incident has occurred.
• Provide a clear, honest explanation of what happened and why.
• Offer a sincere apology and ensure it is meaningful.
• Provide support to patients and families affected, including access to further advice or services.
• Carry out a review of the incident to identify learning and implement improvements.
• Keep a written record of all duty of candour incidents and actions taken.
• Publish an annual duty of candour report, in line with legislative requirements.

All staff must understand and comply with the Duty of Candour. Training will be provided to ensure staff are aware of what constitutes a duty of candour incident and how to respond appropriately. The Clinical Governance Lead will oversee implementation of this policy, ensure incidents are managed in line with the law, and maintain records for reporting purposes.

This policy will be monitored through clinical governance meetings, review of incident reports and staff training compliance. An annual Duty of Candour report will be produced and made publicly available. This policy will be reviewed on 31 January 2027 or sooner if required.