Abstract: The impact of FOI and the rising tide of litigation have focused clinicians on their vulnerability. As the British Orthopaedic News states, the Bristol Enquiry made 198 recommendations of which only a few were specific to paediatric cardiac surgery. With this climate in mind, a Research Project on a system of Risk Management has been established in Trauma & Orthopaedics and A& E in Sligo General Hospital.

A “Clinical Incident Data Collection Form” has been developed to collect and analyse different classifications such as potential risks, near misses, clinical incident, equipment failure and drug error. Trauma, Orthopaedic and Emergency speciality trigger lists will be set up. A Research Officer is in post and a Multidisciplinary Steering Group has been developed, and speciality links have been established. An education programme has commenced for multidisciplinary staff.

The aim is to design and test the Clinical Risk Management in action in order to control and reduce risk in clinical care in the Trauma & Orthopaedic and A& E Department in Sligo General Hospital.