AlphaMED Resources · https://alphamedicine.uk/Resources/glossary/safeguarding
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is the protection of children, and of adults with care needs, from abuse and neglect.
Summary
- Abuse can be physical, emotional, sexual or financial, and includes neglect.
- Everyone who works in the NHS has a duty to act on a concern. They do not need proof.
- Concerns go to the safeguarding lead and, where needed, to the local authority or the police.
- The duty can outweigh confidentiality when someone is at risk of serious harm.
In practice
- Section 47 of the Children Act 1989 applies where a local authority has reasonable cause to suspect that a child in its area is suffering, or is likely to suffer, significant harm.
- Safeguarding can go wrong in both directions. In the blue grey spots case, Hampshire Hospitals said on 12 July 2024 that it was "very sorry for the distress" caused when a birthmark was treated as suspected bruising.
In Hong Kong
- Hong Kong made reporting a legal duty on 20 January 2026, when the Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse Ordinance took effect.
- It covers 25 categories of professionals in social welfare, education and healthcare. They must report as soon as practicable when they have reasonable grounds to suspect a child is suffering serious harm or is at real risk of it.
- Failing to report carries up to three months in prison and a fine of HK$50,000.
Interview questions
- A child has bruises that do not fit the explanation given. What do you do?
- An elderly patient seems frightened of the relative who cares for them. How would you approach it?
- When can a safeguarding concern justify breaking confidentiality?
Sources
- legislation.gov.uklegislation.gov.uk/…/47
- Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusthampshirehospitals.nhs.uk/…/statement-mongolian-blue-spot
- Hong Kong Governmentinfo.gov.hk/…/P2026011900499.htm
Practise answering these with a mentor
Our interview preparation has you answer questions like these out loud, with feedback on each answer.
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More NHS hot topics, medical ethics case studies and medical school interview questions are in AlphaMED Resources, which we add to and update through the application cycle.