Acting on serious risks to patients

Every year, around 10,000 incidents are reported by NHS staff as having led to patients dying or experiencing serious harm.

These reports to the Reporting and Learning System (RLS) provide valuable national learning on risks and system weaknesses which may not always be apparent at a local level.

‘Acting on serious risks to patients’ describes how the National Reporting and Learning Service (NRLS) reviews serious incidents and identifies key areas for action. It delves into the four key stages of the process which include:

1. Initial screening 
2. Prioritising risks 
3. Topics for urgent action 
4. Other learning – reviewing and sharing data

Learn more about how the NRLS is ‘Acting on serious risks to patients’.