What are serious adverse incidents and never events in Northern Ireland hospitals?

Serious Adverse Incidents (SAIs) in Northern Ireland

If a hospital tells you a Serious Adverse Incident (SAI) has been reported, you will want to know what that means, what happens next and whether you may have a claim. This article explains the position in Northern Ireland, how never events fit in and the early steps that protect your interests.

What counts as a serious adverse incident?

In Northern Ireland, Health and Social Care organisations use the term Serious Adverse Incident or SAI for events that led, or could have led, to unexpected harm, loss or damage. SAIs are significant safety failures, not ordinary complications of treatment.

How do never events fit into the picture?

Northern Ireland recognises a small subset of SAIs as never events. These are wholly preventable incidents that should not occur if robust systems are in place. Wrong site surgery and retained foreign objects are classic examples.

The Department of Health maintains a specific list of never events, which is derived from NHS England’s list but adapted locally.

Examples include:

• Wrong site surgery
• Retained foreign objects post-procedure
• Misplacement of nasogastric tubes

What typically happens after a serious adverse incident (SAI)?

When an SAI is declared, the Trust must record and review the incident and communicate with the patient or family. The review aims to establish what happened, identify learning and reduce the risk of recurrence. You should be kept informed and you may be given information about the findings. If you are unsure about anything, ask for clarification and request copies of relevant records as soon as possible.

You can learn more at HSC: Procedure for the Reporting and Follow up of Serious Adverse Incidents.

Serious adverse incidents (SAIs) and never event claims and compensation in Northern Ireland

Patients and families in Northern Ireland affected by an SAI or a never event may have grounds for a clinical negligence claim if it can be shown that the incident resulted in injury, loss or damage.

Will a SAI or a never event prove medical negligence occurred?

An internal designation does not automatically mean compensation will follow. To succeed in a clinical negligence claim you still need to show duty, breach, causation and loss.

That said, never events and many SAIs point strongly to avoidable error and can make the breach element easier to establish, leaving the main dispute about what harm was caused and what compensation is appropriate.

Early steps to protect your position

1. Request your hospital and GP records. You are entitled to these under GDPR and healthcare providers are obliged to provide them, usually within a month.
2. Note who said what and when, including any meetings after the incident.
3. Keep any letters about the SAI. Internal reviews can help frame the issues but you will still need independent expert evidence.
4. Speak to a specialist solicitor. Early legal input helps with evidence gathering and with the correct pre action steps.

We are Belfast-based medical negligence claims experts

We act for patients and families across Northern Ireland in complex healthcare related cases.

If you have been told an SAI has been declared or you suspect a never event, Contact Us for clear, practical advice on your next steps. Or visit Medical Negligence Claims to learn more about our services.