Table 1.

List of position statements

1 All staff should report all concerns they have regarding patient safety, without fear of recrimination, in the knowledge that learning will happen and the system will be improved. Patient safety should be our top priority as healthcare professionals.

2 All staff should report only serious concerns they have regarding patient safety without fear of recrimination, in the knowledge that learning will happen and the system will be improved in relation to serious concerns

3 All concerns regarding patient safety should be reported, but only by senior members of staff. Reporting by more junior members of staff is less likely to be effective

4 Staff cannot be expected to report safety concerns because they are too busy providing care. There is no value in reporting safety concerns if a patient wasn’t harmed or placed at risk. It is just a waste of people’s time and resources