Patient Safety Incident Response Framework

The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) is the new national approach to learning from patient safety incidents in the NHS. It replaces the Serious Incident Framework (SIF, 2015) and marks a significant shift in how healthcare organisations respond to safety incidents.

What is PSIRF?

PSIRF promotes a flexible, transparent, and compassionate approach to incident response, focusing on understanding contributory factors rather than assigning blame. It encourages system-wide learning to improve patient safety.

The Four Core Aims of PSIRF:

1. Compassionate engagement with patients, families, and staff affected by safety incidents.
2. System-based learning to improve safety culture and reduce harm.
3. Proportionate responses to incidents, ensuring appropriate action without unnecessary investigations.
4. Supportive oversight to strengthen governance, learning, and improvement efforts.

How Does PSIRF Work?

• Some incidents will qualify for a Patient Safety Incident Investigation (PSII), while others will focus directly on implementing safety improvements.
• The framework reduces investigation time, ensuring quicker responses for affected individuals.
• We will focus on our PSIRF priorities learning responses over lengthy investigation processes when an incident’s cause is already understood and an improvement action plan is in place.

Policy & Plan

To meet PSIRF requirements, NHS organisations must publish two key documents:

• PSIRF Policy – outlining how incident learning and safety improvements will be managed.
• PSIRF Plan – detailing priority areas for patient safety over the next 12–18 months.

By embedding PSIRF, the NHS is moving toward a more effective, learning-focused approach to patient safety that drives sustainable improvements and reduces harm.

PSIRF policy 

PSIRF Plan 

Support for Patients and Families

If you have accessed this page because you or a loved one has experienced harm while under the care of Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust, we extend our sincerest apologies.

We are committed to being open, honest, and transparent, ensuring that you receive the necessary support throughout this process. Patient and family involvement is a priority, and we will work with you to address concerns and provide meaningful assistance.

If you require support or wish to discuss the care provided by Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust, please contact PALS for guidance: [LINK]

Learning from Incidents

Healthcare organisations learn from patient safety incidents through a variety of methods, including:

• Immediate debriefs
• After Action Reviews
• Multidisciplinary meetings
• Detailed investigations

If you or a loved one has been involved in a patient safety incident, you will have the opportunity to speak with a designated professional who will:

✔ Listen to your concerns
✔ Understand any questions you may have
✔ Explain the different learning approaches that may be applied
✔ Explore how your needs will be considered throughout the response process

If you have not yet been introduced to a point of contact, please reach out to PALS, who will direct you to the most appropriate person.