Learning from Deaths Policy

Introduction

Ashford and St Peter’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is committed to reviewing and learning from deaths in line with the National Quality Board (2017) National Guidance on Learning from Deaths.

The Learning from Deaths policy aligns with the Trust’s overarching ambitions to improve the health of our communities, tackle inequality in healthcare and provide excellent patient and staff experience, as set out in the Trust Clinical Strategy 2024-2029.

Bereaved families are key to the Learning from Deaths process. The Trust supports and welcomes bereaved families to share concerns or learning from their experiences and considers them to be a key partner in the review and learning process.

The Learning from Deaths processes overlap and intersect with the Patient Safety Investigation Framework (PSIRF) (NHSE, 2022) which was implemented by the Trust in April 2024. In the absence of national guidance, the policy intends to clearly outline how the Trust will meet the national requirements for both processes in a proportionate manner, avoiding duplication and ensuring appropriate engagement of those affected.

Policy Details

See also:

• Bereavement Support and Care Policy
• Complaints, Concerns, Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS), Compliments and Remedy Policy
• Handling Deaths at Ashford Hospital SOP
• Patient Safety Incident Response Framework Policy
• Confidentiality and Data Protection Policy
• Learning Disability Policy
• Organ Donation Policy
• Bereavement Guidelines Management of Death of an Infant on NICU
• Maternal Death