title: An evaluation of the Open and Honest Care Programme in acute NHS trusts in Northern England.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the impact of the National Health Service England's Open and Honest Care Programme on patient safety, patient and staff experience and improvement practices within acute National Health Service settings.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Open and Honest Care Programme forms a key tenet of the Nursing Midwifery and Care Staff Strategy launched by the Department of Health in England and Wales in 2012.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic survey (n = 387) was administered to National Health Service staff. Semi-structured telephone interviews (n = 13) were conducted with senior nurses and ward managers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 70% of the survey respondents agreed that the programme increased transparency with the public about the quality of care, helped the working experience of National Health Service staff and improved patient safety respectively. Interviews revealed the Open and Honest Care Programme had enabled National Health Service staff to appraise the effectiveness of their improvement efforts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Open and Honest Care Programme could be an important part of the National Health Service Improvement Strategy. The collection of metric and narrative information highlighted where patient-centred improvements were required, facilitating the targeting and development of specific interventions or resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicate that the programme may assist managers to identify areas for improvement and that programmes such as this deserve consideration by health-care management globally.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health, Engineering and Science, Edith Cowen University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Christiansen
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bewley
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaehne
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lynes
authors.affiliation: Evidence-based Practice Research Centre, Faculty of Health and Social Care, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirkcaldy
mesh_terms: D019985:Benchmarking / Q000379:methods; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D004739:England; D005246:Feedback; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation / Q000379:methods*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014852:Wales
keywords: evaluation; feedback; improvement; patient safety; transparency