NHS STAFF could become legally bound to be open and transparent with patients, families and carers – for instance when admitting mistakes – if an idea in a new Welsh Government Green Paper is pursued.

A new legal duty of candour would extend not just to be being open, but to being so in a way that is easy to understand, and it would apply to all staff.

The Green Paper published today seeks to gather views from patients, public and other stakeholders on a range of ideas that would seek to improve the NHS in Wales.

It comes less than a month after radical proposals on public health such as a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in enclosed public places – now at the bill stage, but themselves once suggestions in a green paper – were laid before the Assembly.

It also proposes that information such as patients’ details be shared more effectively and safely between health and social care agencies, in the interests of patients, though this would not include the selling of data. Other ideas include:

• A legal duty to jointly investigate complaints across health and social care services;

Making Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) more independent, or merging it with Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) to create a new single inspectorate;

Setting up permanent engagement processes, to be used when health boards propose making changes to local services. This might include establishing a national expert panel, which will receive referrals from CHCs.

•Giving health boards borrowing powers to access different sources of finance. NHS trusts can already do this;

“We must always aim to deliver consistently high standards. There is already much in place which we can build on to support staff and NHS organisations,” said health minister Mark Drakeford.

“There have been instances when people have been let down by the quality and the safety of the care they receive. Whether this is because of poor practice, poor communication and information sharing or for other reasons, it is not something we should be prepared to tolerate.

“This Green Paper sets out a range of ideas to build on the culture of continuous improvement, focused on unfailing quality of services provided by the NHS in Wales.”

Full details of the Green Paper and how to respond, can be found at www.gov.wales/consultations