Advocate for Patient Safety Investigations (APSI)

About us

Who we are

An Advocate for Patient Safety Investigations (APSI) is here to support you during a safety investigation. They are healthcare professionals used to having patient contact and working with members of the public.

This investigation is being done because something happened that harmed, or could have harmed, you or a loved one whilst in our care. We are here to make sure that Kingston and Richmond Foundation Trust learns from what happened and improves for the future.

What we do

To be your advocate means we will speak up for you, and make sure your rights or needs are respected. Although we are employed by the Trust, our primary aim is to work for you.

Our role includes:

• Gathering evidence and information in a sensitive manner, to help the investigation.
• Offering you a way to communicate with the investigator and their team. This will give you the opportunity to ask any questions.
• Guiding you through the sometimes complicated process with the coroner, when necessary. We will give you information and practical support throughout.
• Giving you the help and advice when you may need to speak to, or deal with, other organisations such as the Coroner’s Office, local authorities and any other agencies.
• Making sure you have information about supporting agencies. You can then decide what help and advice you need. These may include counselling, bereavement support, citizens advice or Government departments.

Who we are not

We are not counsellors. If you would like the help and support of a counsellor or someone else with specialist skills, we can help you to access charities or agencies we know and trust. This can be done confidentially.

Here to help

We will work hard to make sure we meet you and your family’s needs and help you through the process.

A family can include partners, parents, siblings, children and guardians, as well as others who may not be related but have a direct and close relationship.

We realise that, because of the incident, you may find it difficult to speak with anyone from this Trust. We will continually take this into consideration when we liaise with you and your family.

We know that, on occasions, we may say or do things which you do not understand, or which are unexpected, or even confusing. If you are ever unsure of anything, always ask us to explain more.

Keeping in touch

We will keep you up to date with the investigation as often as possible. We will speak regularly with the Patient Safety Team and the investigator.

Tell us how you would like to be kept up to date. For example, do you prefer text, email, phone calls or visits.

Getting it right

If there is anything we could have done better, either for you or other families in the future, speak to your APSI or their line manager. Contact details are given below.

Some support contacts

• Support following a death at Kingston hospital
• At A Loss                                            
• Cruse bereavement care
• Citizens Advice
• MIND
• Samaritans
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)
• The Compassionate Friends

More information

More information about a patient safety investigation.