SUI: Serious Untoward Incident

Any incident on an NHS site, or elsewhere, whilst in NHS-funded or NHS-regulated care involving:

1. NHS patients/clients/service users, relatives or visitors, or
2. Staff, including students undertaking clinical or work experience, and/or their tutors
3. Contractors, equipment, building or property.

Leading to:

• • Causes death or serious injury or was life threatening
  • Contributes to a pattern of sustained reduction in standards of care
  • Involves a hazard to public health, including major toxic contamination or radiation hazard
  • Involves the absconding or escape of a detained mental health patient who is considered at risk to themselves or others
  • Relates to fraud or suspected fraud; or may, or did, give rise to a significant claim for damages or to legal
    proceedings
  • Has involved the exclusion (suspension) of a member of clinical staff, or a student on clinical attachment, for reasons associated with patient care, which are potentially high impact
  • Raises concern following an inquest or is likely to cause significant interest at an inquest
  • Involves an episode of restraint that results in trauma to patients or staff
  • Involves significant health care associated infections
  • Is a death in custody, e.g. prison, probation hostels and immigration detention accommodation.

Note. Excluded from this definition, are adverse outcomes reasonably associated with routine NHS activity such as major surgical procedures.