Physical Harm
Low physical harm
Low physical harm is when all the following apply:
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did not or is unlikely to need further healthcare beyond a single GP, community healthcare professional, emergency department or clinic visit.
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did not or is unlikely to need further treatment beyond simple dressing changes or short courses of oral medication.
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did not or is unlikely to affect that patient’s independence.
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did not or is unlikely to affect the success of treatment for existing health conditions.
Moderate physical harm
Moderate harm is when at least one of the following apply:
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has needed or is likely to need healthcare beyond a single GP, community healthcare professional, emergency department or clinic visit, and beyond simple dressing changes or short courses of medication, but less than 2 weeks additional inpatient care and/or less than 6 months of further treatment and did not need immediate lifesaving intervention.
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has limited or is likely to limit the patient\s independence, but for less than 6 months.
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has affected or is likely to affect the success of treatment, but without meeting the criteria for reduced life expectancy or accelerated disability described under severe harm.
Severe physical harm
Severe harm is when at least one of the following apply:
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needed immediate live-saving clinical intervention.
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is likely to have reduced the patient’s life expectancy.
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has, or is likely to have, reduced the chances of preventing or delaying disability from their existing healthcare conditions needed or likely to need additional inpatient care of more than 2 weeks and/or more than 6 months of further treatment.
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has limited or is likely to limit the patient's independence for 6 months or more.
Fatal
The patient has died and there is at least a slight possibility the incident that you are recording may have contributed to the death, including stillbirth or pregnancy loss.
Psychological Harm
No psychological harm
- Distress is inherent in being involved in any patient safety incident, but please select this option if there is no specific psychological harm over and above this.
Low psychological harm
Low psychological harm is when at least one of the following apply:
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distress that did not or is unlikely to need extra treatment beyond a single GP, community healthcare professional, emergency department or clinic visit.
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distress that did not or is unlikely to affect the patient’s normal activities for more than a few days.
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distress that did not or is unlikely to result in a new mental health diagnosis or a significant deterioration in an existing mental health condition.
Moderate psychological harm
Moderate psychological harm is when at least one of the following apply:
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distress that did or is likely to need a course of treatment or therapy sessions that extends for less than six months.
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distress that did or is likely to affect the patient’s normal activities for more than a few days but is unlikely to affect the patient’s ability to live independently for more than six months.
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distress that did or is likely to result in a new mental health diagnosis, or a significant deterioration in an existing mental health condition, but where recovery is expected within six months.
Severe psychological harm
Severe psychological harm is when at least one of the following apply:
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distress that did or is likely to need a course of treatment or therapy sessions that continues for more than six months.
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distress that did or is likely to affect the patient’s normal activities or ability to live independently for more than six months.
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distress that did or is likely to result in a new mental health diagnosis, or a significant deterioration in an existing mental health condition, and recovery is not expected within six months.