17.09.19
NHS Providers: Patient safety is a core priority for trusts
As the NHS marks the first-ever World Patient Safety Day, and the Royal College of Nursing’s campaign launch addressing nursing shortages, NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery has stressed the importance of patient safety to NHS trusts.
Ms Cordery said: “Today marks the first World Patient Safety Day, stressing the importance of safe care for all patients. That is a core priority for NHS trusts. We support efforts to reduce risk and highlight good practice. That means moving away from a culture of blame in the NHS towards shared learning, empowerment and transparency.
“The NHS Patient Safety Strategy set out a vision for the NHS to continuously improve its care, and has become an important tool for trusts to help develop a culture which supports this.
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“The Royal College of Nursing is right to highlight the impact of the 40,000 shortfall in the nursing workforce. This comes as trusts face a relentless rise in demand for care, making it harder to ensure services are safe and appropriately staffed.
“Trusts are working flat out to recruit and retain staff in the NHS, including nurses, clinicians and allied health professionals, to help keep up with this demand and to reduce any potential risks.
"The interim NHS People Plan has recognised the need to transform the NHS workforce, although we anticipate that the solutions offered will take time to embed.”