Safety-netting phrases that score marks in the CCE

Safety-netting is one of the most frequently missed scoring opportunities in RACGP exams. Many candidates provide reassurance but fail to demonstrate active risk management.

“Safety-netting is not reassurance - it is risk management spoken aloud.” - A/Prof George Eskander

What examiners expect from safety-netting

Effective safety-netting includes:

• specific symptoms to watch for
• clear timeframes
• escalation instructions
• contingency planning
• documentation awareness

General reassurance without guidance scores poorly.

Common safety-netting errors

Candidates often lose marks by:

• using vague phrases
• omitting timeframes
• failing to link advice to risk
• not addressing deterioration
• avoiding escalation discussion

How to safety-net effectively

High-scoring safety-netting is:

• specific
• risk-focused
• actionable
• clearly verbalised
• proportionate to severity

Conclusion

Safety-netting is a scoring opportunity, not an afterthought. Clear, structured safety-netting demonstrates safe practice and consistently improves exam performance.

Reference
Silverman J, Kurtz S, Draper J. Skills for Communicating with Patients. Radcliffe Publishing.