Seven steps to patient safety in mental health

This document contains a summary of the National Reporting and Learning Service’s (NRLS) seven steps to patient safety in mental health. It covers building a safer culture and managing, reporting and learning from patient safety incidents.

The seven steps are a framework for mental health organisations to work towards improving the safety of service users.

Mental and behavioural disorders are common. More than 25 per cent of all people are affected at some point during their lives and every year one million service users in England and Wales receive specialist mental healthcare.

Over 100,000 patient safety incidents are reported to the NRLS from mental health services every year.

Good practice in this area is readily identifiable in many NHS mental health organisations across England and Wales, and examples are included in this document.

The seven steps are:

1. Build a safety culture.
2. Lead and support your staff.
3. Integrate your risk management activity.
4. Promote reporting.
5. Involve and communicate with patients and the public.
6. Learn and share safety lessons.
7. Implement solutions to prevent harm.