Understanding the code: The duty of candour

摘要

A key recommendation of the Mid Staffordshire Inquiry (Francis, 2013) was to establish a culture of openness in all health services through a duty of candour. A professional duty of candour is a key requirement of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's revised Code (2015). It requires all district nurses to be candid with patients about any errors in their care and treatment. District nurses working in England are also subject to a statutory duty of candour imposed on their employer by the Care Quality Commission. In this article, the author considers the organisational and professional duties of candour and their effect on a district nurse's practice.