02.07.19
NHS Providers head of policy calls for 'culture shift within NHS' to implement Patient Safety Strategy
Following the launch of the new NHS Patient Safety Strategy, setting out how the organisation seeks to achieve its vision to continuously improve patient safety, head of policy at NHS Providers, Amber Jabbal, called for a "culture shift within the NHS, moving away from blame" to successfully implement the strategy.
Ms Jabbal described how the newly-published strategy would serve as an important tool for NHS trusts going forwards and improving in the area of patient safety.
She explained: "It will help foster a culture of learning in which staff feel able to speak up and contribute to continuous improvement.
"NHS staff are committed to ensuring that patients are kept as safe as possible and this strategy helpfully sets out how we can build on this commitment through the use of technology, sharing learning and empowering staff and patients when it comes to quality of care.
“To achieve the ambitions of this strategy, there must be a culture shift within the NHS, moving away from blame, to one which is transparent and support learning from the causes of incidents. Dedicated experts within organisations will help to support this open dialogue among staff.
READ THE FULL PATIENT SAFETY STRATEGY HERE
“It is right that NHS staff across all levels are given the training, expertise and resources needed to fully embed an effective safety culture and spot the risks of patient harm when they occur. Staff and trusts must also have the support and resource they require to adopt the digital solutions which will play a key role in delivering these aims.
“We are pleased to have supported the work carried out by Dr Aidan Fowler [national director of patient safety at NHS England and Improvement] and will continue to work with trusts and their partners to implement the vision for patient safety set out in this strategy.”
The NHS Patient Safety Strategy was launched today as part of the annual Patient Safety Congress.