Open disclosure supports open, honest and timely conversations with patients and their families, carers or support people when a patient safety incident occurs.
It helps our patients understand what happened, the known impacts, and the actions being taken in response. Effective open disclosure can support trust, strengthen communication and improve confidence in how health services respond to patient safety incidents. It also supports organisational learning following these incidents.
This section provides guidance, tools and resources to support restorative open disclosure practice across NSW Health.
The Open Disclosure Policy (PD2023_034) outlines the minimum requirements for implementing consistent open disclosure processes within NSW Health services.
Handbook
Step-by-step guidance for open disclosure after a patient safety incident.
Apologising and saying sorry
Guidance on apologising and communicating openly after a patient safety incident.
Support for staff
Resources to help staff navigate and recover from patient safety incidents.
Resources
Education, guidance and practical tools for effective open disclosure.