Second Victims Support

Vision Statement

Second Victim Support recognises the impact that a patient safety incident has on the healthcare employee involved. Whilst the patient and their family are always the priority, this website seeks to help ‘Second Victims’ identify the types of support they may need, and signpost them towards help. Our website advocates for a safety culture in healthcare organisations where patient safety incidents are managed in a way that enables learning and improves systems, founded on evidence.

• ‘Second victims’ will find: a place of recognition that you are not alone in your experience; signposting to sources of help; signs to look out for that your health or ability to work is being affected by your experience; and frequently asked questions about the investigation process. Here, healthcare employees share their personal stories of being involved in a patient safety incident, including how some coping mechanisms are more effective than others. We hope this website can reassure you support is available and there is light at the end of the tunnel.
• Managers and other healthcare employees will find: insight into the impact of patient safety incidents on healthcare staff; help to prepare staff to cope with patient safety incidents; signposts to sources of help and guidance to assist you in offering the appropriate level of support for those involved in patient safety incidents.
• Organisations will find: an understanding of the impact of patient safety culture on patient safety incidents and those involved in these; an organisational staff support model and associated approaches aligned to different levels of support, which if available, could prevent those involved in patient safety incidents experiencing lasting consequences: case studies of organisations who have implemented second victim support systems, and a Just Culture Assessment Framework to allow for self-assessment and action to improve organisational patient safety culture.