Minister for Health publishes National Open Disclosure Framework Stakeholders Annual Report 2025
- Foilsithe: 13 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
- An t-eolas is déanaí: 13 Deireadh Fómhair 2025
Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill has published the first National Open Disclosure Framework Stakeholders Annual Report.
The Framework, which was launched in 2023 and is implemented by the National Patient Safety Office (NPSO) within the Department of Health, aims to establish a consistent national approach to open disclosure within the health and social care sectors in Ireland.
The first annual report highlights that implementation of the Framework is progressing well across all stakeholders and includes actions that can help improve implementation.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
"The development of this Framework marks a significant milestone in fostering a cultural shift within our healthcare service. The collaborative efforts of stakeholders have focused on creating a culture of open disclosure to promote transparency and accountability in patient care.
"By nurturing an environment where healthcare professionals feel confident communicating openly with patients when things go wrong, we can improve patient safety, build trust, and enhance the overall quality of care.
"A culture of open disclosure is crucial for improving the quality and safety of our health and social care services. I strongly believe in the positive impact and difference that open disclosure can make. The patient remains at the centre of everything we do, and we must prioritise openness and transparency in all healthcare interactions."
Notes
Open disclosure is defined by the Health Service Executive (HSE) as an open, consistent, compassionate, and timely approach to communicating with patients or, where appropriate, their relevant person (or both of them) following patient safety incidents or notifiable incidents.
It includes apologising and expressing regret for what has happened, keeping the patient informed and providing reassurance regarding ongoing care and treatment, learning and the steps being taken by the health or social care service providers to try to prevent a recurrence of a similar incident.
The National Open Disclosure Framework was launched in October 2023. The Department of Health has since implemented it in collaboration with various stakeholders. Each stakeholder has specific obligations under the Framework that must be fulfilled within their organisations. They are required to submit annual progress reports to the Minister.
The first annual report included input from key stakeholders such as service providers, service regulators, professional regulators, and education bodies.
The report notes that the HSE has made significant efforts in implementing the Framework’s requirements and has achieved considerable progress, including the following:
- development of a new HSE Open Disclosure Policy 2025, which was launched in June 2025. This new policy applies to all HSE and HSE-funded services
- development and implementation of HSE Open Disclosure Training, which includes two E-Learning modules and one face-to-face skills workshop
- the HSE also developed other related training modules, including an Overview of the Patient Safety Act 2023, the Role of the Designated Person in Incident Management and Open Disclosure, and an Open Disclosure Train the Trainer Programme
- substantial support structures in place for all staff, enabling open disclosure in the different services under the six health regions and some HSE-funded organisations
- the development and implementation of the National Incident Management System (NIMS) that allows the HSE and HSE-funded services to report specific incidents to the appropriate regulators
Non-HSE service providers are also making good progress in adopting and implementing the Framework. For example, progressing with staff training and development of support systems related to open disclosure.
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and Mental Health Commission (MHC) are both making progress in incorporating open disclosure into their national standards, policies, and regulatory processes for the services they regulate.
Education bodies have also begun integrating open disclosure into their undergraduate and postgraduate programmes with clinical or practical components.
The Framework applies to a range of health and social care services, such as public and private hospitals, clinics, community health organisations, and social service agencies.