This essay is going to look at and explore aspects of accountability and why it is important in the
healthcare setting. Throughout this essay local and professionally prescribed codes of ethical
conduct will be investigated. It will be discussed how the importance of professional accountability
in care settings need to be appreciated. The issue of confidentiality and record keeping within the
organisation and workplace will be discussed In relation to the new 2018 General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR 2018) .
Furthermore, the pillars of accountability will be explored throughout and discussed in detail. The
awareness of codes of conduct will be displayed in relation to the beliefs, rights and applied through
problem solving skills to ethical dilemmas.
As suggested by Cambridge dictionary (2018) when defining accountability, it suggests “the fact of
being responsible for what you do and able to give a satisfactory reason for it, or the degree to
which this happens”. Firstly, when referring to accountability in healthcare it may be suggested that
there are 3 parts. the first part refers to the professional’s individualistic view of the accountability
of their work. The second part refers to the health professional’s accountability within their work
organisation. And finally, the third senior members of staff and their accountability within their
organisational performance and provisions of local services. (health knowledge 2018).
Accountability within health and social care is important and crucial to a smooth-running national
health system in order to promote the best conduct of practice. Without the best code of practice, it
may be argued that there will be flaws and negligence within the NHS. This is where tort law is
applied in situations of negligence were wrong doing by the professional causes a breach of duty
(Hope, Savulescu, & Hendrick 2003). To protect accountability within the health and social care
setting the four pillars of accountability were created. There are four pillars of accountability that
include professional accountability, ethical accountability, legal accountability and employment
accountability (Caulfield ,2005) each pillar will be discussed throughout. Furthermore, some may
argue that there are 5 pillars of accountability as suggested by Dimmound (2008) and Stonehouse
1
, (2014) who list five pillars of accountability which are self, patients, public society, Employer and
professional (regulators). When looking at Caulfield’s pillars of accountability the first pillar of
accountability refers to professional accountability. Professional accountability is the stronghold of
good nursing practice and promotes the safeguarding of the patient through good practice and the
best care possible to the patient (Caulfield, 2005). Professional accountability ensures that a trusting
relationship can be built between the patient and the professional and the organisation. The nursing
and midwifery council have been around for nearly one hundred years and is at the forefront of
setting standards and good codes of practice within the nursing profession. The NMC underpins
everything that is ethically required within the nursing profession protecting both the professional
and patient. The main piece of legislation that creates the limits of accountability within the nursing
and midwifery profession is the code of professional conduct (NMC, 2002). As argued by the NMC in
the professional codes of conduct “you are personally accountable for your practice” (Nmc.org.uk,
2018). It may be suggested that Every professional may have their own relationship with the NMC
which is specific to the ethics and morals of the individuals as suggested by (Caulfield,p4 2005) “the
relationship between the nurse or midwife and the NMC is a personal relationship that cannot be
delegated to another nurse or midwife”.
Subsequently the second pillar looks at ethical accountability. Ethical accountability within
healthcare is very important and play a role to ethically structure the healthcare system in a
beneficial way for all by formulating the rules to give ethical accountability within the framework of
healthcare. When relating to ethical values of the professional individual (Caulfield P6, 2005)
suggests “Everyone as their own set of values about the world, these values shape the individual
approach of the nurse and it’s important that it reflected in nursing practice”. In nursing practice, it
may be suggested that ethical rules underline accountability within the nursing profession. Ethical
accountability is very important and everyone that works within the healthcare industry will have
their own set of morals and values that may guide them with their nursing practice (Caulfield, 2005).
2
healthcare setting. Throughout this essay local and professionally prescribed codes of ethical
conduct will be investigated. It will be discussed how the importance of professional accountability
in care settings need to be appreciated. The issue of confidentiality and record keeping within the
organisation and workplace will be discussed In relation to the new 2018 General Data Protection
Regulation (GDPR 2018) .
Furthermore, the pillars of accountability will be explored throughout and discussed in detail. The
awareness of codes of conduct will be displayed in relation to the beliefs, rights and applied through
problem solving skills to ethical dilemmas.
As suggested by Cambridge dictionary (2018) when defining accountability, it suggests “the fact of
being responsible for what you do and able to give a satisfactory reason for it, or the degree to
which this happens”. Firstly, when referring to accountability in healthcare it may be suggested that
there are 3 parts. the first part refers to the professional’s individualistic view of the accountability
of their work. The second part refers to the health professional’s accountability within their work
organisation. And finally, the third senior members of staff and their accountability within their
organisational performance and provisions of local services. (health knowledge 2018).
Accountability within health and social care is important and crucial to a smooth-running national
health system in order to promote the best conduct of practice. Without the best code of practice, it
may be argued that there will be flaws and negligence within the NHS. This is where tort law is
applied in situations of negligence were wrong doing by the professional causes a breach of duty
(Hope, Savulescu, & Hendrick 2003). To protect accountability within the health and social care
setting the four pillars of accountability were created. There are four pillars of accountability that
include professional accountability, ethical accountability, legal accountability and employment
accountability (Caulfield ,2005) each pillar will be discussed throughout. Furthermore, some may
argue that there are 5 pillars of accountability as suggested by Dimmound (2008) and Stonehouse
1
, (2014) who list five pillars of accountability which are self, patients, public society, Employer and
professional (regulators). When looking at Caulfield’s pillars of accountability the first pillar of
accountability refers to professional accountability. Professional accountability is the stronghold of
good nursing practice and promotes the safeguarding of the patient through good practice and the
best care possible to the patient (Caulfield, 2005). Professional accountability ensures that a trusting
relationship can be built between the patient and the professional and the organisation. The nursing
and midwifery council have been around for nearly one hundred years and is at the forefront of
setting standards and good codes of practice within the nursing profession. The NMC underpins
everything that is ethically required within the nursing profession protecting both the professional
and patient. The main piece of legislation that creates the limits of accountability within the nursing
and midwifery profession is the code of professional conduct (NMC, 2002). As argued by the NMC in
the professional codes of conduct “you are personally accountable for your practice” (Nmc.org.uk,
2018). It may be suggested that Every professional may have their own relationship with the NMC
which is specific to the ethics and morals of the individuals as suggested by (Caulfield,p4 2005) “the
relationship between the nurse or midwife and the NMC is a personal relationship that cannot be
delegated to another nurse or midwife”.
Subsequently the second pillar looks at ethical accountability. Ethical accountability within
healthcare is very important and play a role to ethically structure the healthcare system in a
beneficial way for all by formulating the rules to give ethical accountability within the framework of
healthcare. When relating to ethical values of the professional individual (Caulfield P6, 2005)
suggests “Everyone as their own set of values about the world, these values shape the individual
approach of the nurse and it’s important that it reflected in nursing practice”. In nursing practice, it
may be suggested that ethical rules underline accountability within the nursing profession. Ethical
accountability is very important and everyone that works within the healthcare industry will have
their own set of morals and values that may guide them with their nursing practice (Caulfield, 2005).
2
