13 December 2007
The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), on behalf of the Patient Safety Forum, reports significant progress in putting Patient Safety at the top of the NHS’ agenda today.
The publication, Safety First: One Year On reveals that many major milestones have been reached over the last year, but that there is still a lot of work to do to ensure that all NHS organisations have Patient Safety as their number one priority.
The publication shows how NHS organisations are pulling together with other key partners, including the Royal Colleges and international partners, to push for patient safety.
Safety First: One Year on, reveals that;
- A National Patient Safety Forum has been established and is meeting regularly to set the agenda and check progress
- The NPSA has worked with Strategic Health Authorities to create Patient Safety Action Teams, with Patient Safety Managers taking the lead
- The NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement has begun vital work with Royal Colleges and the deaneries to embed patient safety in training
- A Patient Safety Charter has been agreed and signed by over 20 organisations
- The NPSA is taking a lead in developing a national patient safety campaign in collaboration with other national organisations.
Health Minister, Ann Keen, said:
"Patient Safety is paramount if the NHS is to achieve its aims and I am delighted that this report reveals some significant progress over the last year.
"There is still a considerable amount of work to be done but looking at the achievements so far, I am confident that we can make further strides in putting safety first."
Sir Liam Donaldson, the Chief Medical Officer, said:
“It is heartening to see how many organisations have come together to make real achievements over the last year. We must not believe that the job is complete. This is only the beginning of the journey to make healthcare safer. But significant progress has been made.”
Martin Fletcher, NPSA Chief Executive, said:
“We have made significant strides in the last year. There has been a real move towards making patient safety the top priority for all NHS organisations.
“A large number of organisations and individuals have worked hard on these changes. We mustn’t rest here though. There is still much more work that needs to be done if we are to ensure that all patients are treated with safety and dignity every time.
The full report, Safety First: One Year On, is being launched at the Institute for Child Health today (13 December).
Notes to editors:
- The report Safety First: One Year On can be downloaded here
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Safety First: One Year on provides an update on multi-agency progress against the recommendations set out in Safety First, published by the Department of Health in December 2006.
- The NPSA has led the work towards achieving the recommendations with other organisations with an interest in patient safety.
- For further information please call Nick Rigg or Sarah Hayward on 020 7927 9362 or 020 7927 9357.
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The NPSA’s work includes specific safety aspects of hospital design, cleanliness and food. The NPSA is also ensuring research is carried out safely, through its responsibility for the National Research and Ethics Service (NRES); and is supporting local organisations in addressing their concerns about the performance of individual doctors and dentists, through its responsibility for the National Clinical Assessment Service (NCAS). It also manages the contracts with the three confidential enquiries, NCEPOD, CEMACH and NCI. Further information about the NPSA is available at www.npsa.nhs.uk
