This easy-to-use healthcare risk assessment tool aims to promote vigilance in identifying risk and the ways in which risk can be minimised. It also includes guidance to encourage greater consistency in the way risk assessment is applied across the NHS.
Created with acute care in mind, the tool is equally applicable and easily adapted for use in a primary care setting. It is intended to encourage greater use of risk assessment at practice level, and increased awareness and understanding of risk assessment at all levels. Frontline staff may use it to assess any risk to a patient or patients in their care.
The document describes the difference between a hazard and a risk, and sets out the five steps to easy risk management. It also contains an example risk matrix and action required to reduce risks to an acceptable level.
