Northern Territory General Practice Education (NTGPE) aims to provide and promote the highest standard of support and most beneficial placement experiences for all program participants. Your safety and well-being is very important to us and it is therefore vital that NTPGE be informed of any ‘Critical Incidents’ or ‘Near Misses’ you experience whilst on placement.
What is a Critical Incident?
A Critical Incident is generally considered to be an event outside the normal range of experience of the people involved that is likely to cause physical and/or emotional distress to a degree sufficient to threaten or overcome their usual coping resources. There is a wide spectrum of events that may be classed as critical incidents in the rural and remote context such as medical emergencies, serious injuries and trauma, verbal or physical threats and workplace unrest. It is important to remember that it is normal to react emotionally to a critical incident. This may involve recurrent thoughts about the event, feeling uneasy or anxious, mood changes, restlessness, feeling tired and disturbed sleep.
What is a Near Miss?
A Near Miss is an unplanned event that did not result in injury, illness or damage – but had the potential to do so. It is also often defined as a ‘close call’ or / and ‘accident that almost happened’. Whilst there has been no injury or damage in this situation it is still vitally important to report a ‘near miss’ so that corrective action can be taken.
Critical Incident or Near Miss Examples
Please find below a list of events that require reporting to NTGPE.
Threats to personal safety:
• a critical event surrounding your travel to or from any destination (e.g. vehicle accident);
• concern that you may have contracted an illness (e.g. needle stick injury; TB exposure);
• an unexpected death (whether or not the patient was in your care);
• personal or witnessed assault, threat or insult (by any person to any person – you, others, animals);
• concern about community unrest or violence;
• being witness to a medical or cultural event that has caused you grief or shock (e.g. children as victims; payback as a form of punishment);
• concern you have made a mistake, medically, culturally or otherwise;
• unlawful entry or attempt of unlawful entry to your accommodation.
Threats to emotional wellbeing (as well as above threats):
• emergency or illness within your own family that requires your attention;
• you are the victim of a crime (not named above – e.g. theft, etc);
• requested to do something unreasonable or against your will (e.g. treat a patient who doesn’t want to be treated);
• pressured to work beyond your capacity or outside the guidelines for your placement (e.g. additional hours, working beyond your skill/knowledge level);
• concerns about any intimidating action/behaviour from any person (e.g. workplace bullying; community blame; rumours);
• stress caused by politics in the workplace or community (e.g. volatile working relationships amongst staff).
Reporting a Critical Incident or Near Miss
Critical incidents are significant and to ensure acknowledgment, follow-up and support occur appropriately they must be reported in a timely manner.
NTGPE therefore requests that any critical incident or near miss be reported to NTGPE as soon as practicable.
In the first instance, please report to your particular Program Manager during business hours:
GP Registrars: Susie Lehmann (08) 8946 6748 or Silvia Bretta (08) 8946 7369
John Flynn Placement Program: Sue Irvin 0407 541 945
If your matter is urgent and you require NTGPE support out of business hours, please phone (08) 8946 7079 and you will be directed to an on call contact member of the Executive Team who will assist you.
Critical Incident Report Form
Please complete Section A of the Critical Incidents Form (Attachment 1) and return to your Program Manager.