Reducing Diagnostic Errors

Diagnostic errors are a common cause of patient harm. This can happen when a diagnosis is missed, wrong or delayed and it is estimated 11 in every 10 diagnoses are wrong. Diagnostic error is most likely the thing that patients worry about most- they want to know what is wrong with them and how they can get better, there is a fear about their diagnosis being wrong or delayed.

The aim of this group is to reduce diagnostic errors and resulting harm by targeting the following actions:

Raising awareness of diagnostic error as a significant patient safety issue across healthcare, raising public awareness of diagnostic error and encourage patients to be active empowered partners in the diagnostic process, to connect healthcare staff who are interested in reducing harm from diagnostic errors and to share best practice.