Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to clarify accountability for patient safety where care is delivered across multiple NHS organisations.

The primary responsibility for the safety of care rests with each National Health Service provider and its board. We expect providers to work together to manage risks that arise across organisational boundaries and to ensure continuity and coordination of care for patients.

Quality and safety risks are managed in accordance with the National Quality Board’s national guidance on Quality Risk Response and Escalation, which details the structure for quality governance across the NHS system.

Integrated care boards are required to establish System Quality Groups, bringing together NHS organisations, NHS England regional representatives, local authorities, regulators, commissioners and other partners to oversee quality and patient safety across local systems. Where appropriate, System Quality Groups can escalate concerns to NHS England Regional Quality and Safety Teams or if necessary further still to NHS England's Executive Quality Group to enable coordinated action across regional boundaries.