The last ten years have seen significant activity from policymakers to improve patient safety. We have the NHS Patient Safety Strategy and welcome the introduction of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework, which recognises the complexity of systems and the risks to staff and patients of a blame culture.
Published 29th June 2023, The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman reported that:
The National Health Service is suffering from a deficit of accountability and compassion for patients and their families when things go wrong, England’s Health Ombudsman has warned.
In a new report, ‘Broken trust: making patient safety more than just a promise’, the Ombudsman has said the NHS must do more to accept accountability and learn from mistakes, particularly when there is serious harm or, worse, loss of life.
The Ombudsman has called for urgent action from the Government to prioritise patient safety and protect families who search for understanding in the wake of a tragedy.
The report sets out recommendations to improve patient safety. These include:
- better support for families affected by harm
- embedding cultures that promote honesty and learning from mistakes
- getting the right oversight and regulatory structures to prioritise patient safety
- and an evidence-based and long-term workforce strategy that has cross-party support.
Read more from the PSHO here: https://www.ombudsman.org.uk/news-and-blog/news/nhs-must-make-patient-safety-more-just-promise
Download Broken trust: making patient safety more than just a promise here
