Sentinel events

What are sentinel events?

Sentinel events are the most serious incidents reported by hospitals.

They can include surgeries performed on the incorrect patient, incompatible blood transfusions and serious medication errors.

How we are supporting hospitals in reporting sentinel events

The purpose of sentinel event reporting is to ensure public accountability, transparency and drive national improvements in patient safety.

There are ten sentinel events which can be found in our sentinel events list.

The purpose of the sentinel events list is to provide clarity about what constitutes a sentinel event and aid consistency in reporting. 

View the sentinel event specifications

Summary of sentinel events list

View the sentinel event specifications.

1. Surgery or other invasive procedure performed on the wrong site resulting in serious harm or death
2. Surgery or other invasive procedure performed on the wrong patient resulting in serious harm or death
3. Wrong surgical or other invasive procedure performed on a patient resulting in serious harm or death
4. Unintended retention of a foreign object in a patient after surgery or other invasive procedure resulting in serious harm or death
5. Haemolytic blood transfusion reaction resulting from ABO incompatibility resulting in serious harm or death
6. Suspected suicide of a patient in an acute psychiatric unit or acute psychiatric ward
7. Medication error resulting in serious harm or death
8. Use of physical or mechanical restraint resulting in serious harm or death
9. Discharge or release of an infant or child to an unauthorised person
10. Use of an incorrectly positioned oro- or naso- gastric tube resulting in serious harm or death