Resources

Saying sorry is an important element of open disclosure and psychological safety – and therefore clinical governance. It is also an extremely powerful yet simple way to make people ‘feel better’. Saying sorry conveys empathy, compassion, and respect towards the person receiving the apology, not to mention remorse. It acknowledges an acceptance that your actions (or words) can adversely impact others, and is the opposite of defensiveness (which is counter-productive). Apologising is not taking the blame, nor is it an admission of liability. Saying sorry is about being accountable, accepting responsibility, and restoring trust in a relationship.

It’s not just what we say, it’s how we say it. We know effective communication is key to patient safety and quality, and person-centred care. But it is also crucial to psychological safety and the extent to which we support each other in speaking out, or in asking questions. This in turn will impact patient care.

We are all responsible for clinical governance - whether as health practitioners at the point of care, managers, or decision-makers on the Board. While we usually refer to clinical governance in terms of organisational frameworks, systems and processes, clinical governance is also an individual responsibility.

Certainly, governing bodies are responsible for robust clinical governance - however, individuals within the organisation are equally accountable and responsible for ensuring that clinical governance operates in practice. A failure to do so may amount to professional misconduct.