9 Children, young people, families and carers: Navigating patient safety incidents together

In 2024, Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) adopted the national Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), marking a significant shift in how serious incidents are reviewed and understood. While children, young people, families and carers have historically been involved in patient safety investigations, PSIRF provides a structured opportunity to deepen and formalise their engagement in what are often challenging, complex and painful processes.The GOSH Patient Safety Team has developed a bespoke framework to support meaningful collaboration with patients and families during incident investigations, ensuring their experiences and perspectives are central to the learning process. This approach not only enhances transparency and trust but also strengthens the organisation’s capacity to learn and improve. The framework outlines clear principles and practices for engaging families, offering tailored support and fostering a culture of openness and shared accountability. Early implementation has demonstrated the value of co-produced investigations in driving compassionate, patient-centred safety improvements.