It was established in 2001 to monitor patient safety incidents, including medication and prescribing error reporting, in the NHS.
[1][2] Since 1 April 2005 it had also overseen safety aspects of hospital design and cleanliness, as well as food (transferred from NHS Estates).
Between 2005 and April 2012 it hosted the National Clinical Assessment Service that aims to help in resolving concerns about the performance of individual doctors and dentists.
Where a trend emerges relating to incidents then it issued reports, recommendations and guidance to avoid repetition.
From 2005 it was possible for staff to submit information through web-based forms, although the roll out of the system took two years longer than originally envisaged.