Safety first
The safety of patients and staff is of paramount importance to the NHS and north east health organisations have a strong track record in providing safe and effective services, with robust systems to minimise risk.
To build on this and make standards even higher across the board, NHS organisations in the north east have worked together to develop The Safer Care North East - Strategic Framework. This framework, which was developed by the north east patient safety strategic forum and brings together input from NHS organisations across the region, was launched in July 2008.
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Three year plan
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The framework includes a three year plan aligned to the overall vision for health care in the north east, in particular the clear aim of 'no avoidable deaths, injury or illness'.
It reflects both national and local priorities and sets out a development programme for collective areas of work which will further improve the safety of services, whilst at the same time allowing local organisations to take forward their own initiatives.
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Key elements
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The framework links into the clinical pathway reviews which have taken place as part of the Our NHS, our future review and will build on the clinical involvement in this development. Key elements include:
Eight priority clinical themes of:
- Managing the deteriorating patient
- Drug safety issues
- Reducing suicide
- Safe surgical procedures
- Healthcare associated infections
- Care transfers, handovers and discharges
- Reducing falls
- Review of outlying mortality rates for conditions and procedures
A focus on key enablers which improve safety even further, including:
- Embedding a patient safety culture
- Ensuring robust systems and processes
- Development of relevant skills and knowledge throughout the workforce
- Use of appropriate information management and technology
- Maximising use of other available levers to support the patient safety agenda, such as commissioning and contracting processes
- Measuring success with the development of indicators relating to the priority themes.
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Patient safety action team
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A patient safety action team has been established in the SHA to support and co-ordinate the implementation of the safer care north east programme working closely with trust teams. A network of associate members will be identified from north east trusts and other partners. The associate role will be key to successful implementation of this patient safety improvement programme.
The intention is that associates will be experienced clinicians, managers and others with a keen interest in leading or contributing to improvements in patient safety. This associate network will supplement the skills and expertise of the core team in taking forward work on the priorities in the patient safety strategic framework, linking work in their host organisation to the broader north east programme. It will also provide opportunities to support individual personal and professional development and will help to ensure that the patient safety programme is well grounded.
For more information on the safer care north east and the patient safety action team contact: Yvonne Evans, acting strategic head of patient safety or any member of the patient safety action team on 0191 2106427 or email patient.safety@nhs.net
