Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, a) what data is held on serious errors in interpreting PSA pathology results without reference to a patient’s medical history, b) and how the Department ensures such incidents are reported through Datix.

Data on serious errors in interpreting prostate-specific antigen (PSA) pathology results is not held centrally.

Patient safety incidents relating to PSA testing are recorded on local risk management systems, of which Datix is one of a number of systems. This data is submitted to the national Learn from Patient Safety Events service, run by NHS England, for all reported patient safety events.

Providers are encouraged to record all patient safety incidents, including those involving PSA testing. All providers are legally required to notify the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of specific incidents, for example the death of a service user or specific incidents that have resulted in injury. The CQC monitors this information and uses it to inform its assessment of services.

The recording of incidents is supported through local compliance mechanisms, staff training, and clear reporting pathways.