Robin Swann

The consultation details proposals for legislation to ensure that health care and social care organisations, and individuals who work for them, are open and honest about mistakes made in the course of treatment and care so that there can be learning from those errors, which in turn will lead to continuous improvement in health and social care services.

Health minister Robin Swann announced the deadline extension, allowing more key stakeholders and members of the public to respond.

He said: “A number of bodies have requested an extension to the consultation period and I have agreed to move the closing date to the end of August to afford more opportunity, for anyone who wishes, to make comments on the proposals.

“In particular we would like to hear the views of members of the public. This is a very complex issue and consultation is being held to make sure that we get it rights. We want to receive as wide a range of views as possible.”

Legislation on duty of candour was among the recommendations of Mr Justice O’Hara in his independent report on hyponatraemia-related deaths, which was published in January 2018.

The consultation document was written by a working group of experts, including service users and carers. It commenced on 12 April this year and was scheduled to close on 2 August.

The deadline will now be 31 August.

More information and the consultation document can be accessed here.