Launch of new patient safety programme

In 2013 the national advisory group on the safety of patients in England published the Berwick report: a promise to learn - a commitment to act. 

The report said NHS trusts should “place the quality of patient care, especially patient safety, above all other aims. Engage, empower and hear patients and carers at all times. Foster wholeheartedly the growth and development of all staff, including their ability and support to improve the processes in which they work. Embrace transparency unequivocally and everywhere in the service of accountability, trust and the growth of knowledge.”

In response to the report, this month sees the introduction our new trust-wide patient safety programme, kicking off with patient safety week.

Starting today, the week is designed to raise awareness of key patient safety issues, highlight the excellent improvement work that is already underway, lay out the trust strategy for patient safety and get feedback from staff on safety priorities. 

The three key elements of the new programme are laid out below:

• Listening to what we’re told by our patients and staff.
• Learning from the experiences of our patients and staff.
• Acting on what we learn to improve patient safety.

Throughout the week, staff will be able to drop into a clinical simulation session, watch a live simulated debrief, visit our workstream stalls or attend a quality improvement workshop. There is also a series of special guest speakers throughout the week including Sir David Dalton, chief executive of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

The patient safety programme is about our staff supporting each other to achieve a common goal – for the trust to become a national leader in patient safety. Patient safety week is just the start of our journey.

Events open to the public, patients and carers

Some of our events are open to the public, patients and carers, please see the events programme below: