Are medical handovers safe, effective and educational?

Abstract

Handover is a major preventable cause of patient harm if conducted clearly in an organised manner.
Royal College of Physicians (RCP) handover toolkit (2015) recommends standardisation of handover process with clear leadership responsibilities and accountability.
HRI ward medical handover takes place daily at 17:00 & 21:00 with additional meeting at 9:00 on weekends.
Last Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection raised concerns regarding escalation and medical reviews of deteriorating patients.
Handover is a dedicated platform to help identify and prioritise such medical reviews.