Leuven (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – UZ Leuven became the 1st hospital in Europe to receive the RESCUE quality label for supporting healthcare staff, praised by Professor José Mira and Director Dirk De Ridder.
As VRT News reported, University Hospital Leuven has received the European “RESCUE” quality label for the support it offers to healthcare workers after difficult medical incidents. The label recognises hospitals that help staff cope with the emotional impact of such events.
At UZ Leuven, doctors and nurses receive guidance and counselling when something goes wrong in patient care. The hospital understands that these situations can be hard not only for patients and families but also for the caregivers involved.
“We know that after an incident, people can begin to doubt their knowledge and skills. That’s one of the biggest risks for making mistakes again,”
says Professor Kris Vanhaecht, head of the Patient Safety and Quality research group at KU Leuven.
“That’s why we need to guide them properly: learn from mistakes without pointing fingers, because to err is human.”
What makes UZ Leuven the 1st in Europe to get the RESCUE label?
Director Dirk De Ridder said that UZ Leuven has set up a clear support system for staff who face emotional stress after a serious event.
“People who aren’t feeling well or are struggling with guilt and shame tend to exhibit a kind of avoidance behaviour,”
he says. For example, they might no longer dare to undertake certain procedures. This not only affects the nurse, but also the quality of care.”
Many hospital departments now have care coaches, staff coaches, or peer support workers who offer help when something goes wrong. The first support usually comes from close colleagues. Employees can also talk to coaches for extra guidance.
“We have a relatively unique program,”
says De Ridder.
“Our hospital, in collaboration with the university, discovered this problem a little earlier than other institutions. We’ve been developing this system for 10 years, so our operations are a bit more advanced.”
Professor José Mira, coordinator of the RESCUE program, praised the hospital as a leader in staff care.
“Their approach is scientifically sound, sustainable, and people-focused,”
he says.
“It’s a model for hospitals across Europe.”
The idea of supporting healthcare workers after serious patient incidents began in 2000 when American doctor Albert Wu introduced the term “second victim.” In 2009, researcher Susan Scott described how affected staff move through 6 stages of recovery.
In Europe, the ERNST network was set up on 15 September 2020 to help medical professionals who face emotional stress after patient harm. This led to the creation of the RESCUE project. The official RESCUE e-book, released on 21 July 2025, laid out a European plan for second-victim support.
