World Patient Safety Day (this Thursday, 17th September) is an opportunity to bring together patients, families, carers, communities, health workers, health care leaders and policymakers to show their commitment to patient safety.
Thursday marks the seventh annual World Patient Safety Day, which aims to:
- Increase staff awareness of patient safety
- Improve patient safety within CHFT
The theme this year is 'safe care for non-communicable diseases.'
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) tend to be of long duration and are the result of a combination of genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. Common types of NCDs include cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma) and diabetes.
People of all age groups, regions and countries are affected by NCDs, although they are often associated with older age groups. NCDs disproportionately affect people in low and middle-income countries, where nearly three quarters of global NCD deaths (32 million) occur.
People living with NCDs can need care across multiple settings over long periods of time, with multiple points where safety risks can arise.
So, what can we do to help?
- Risks must be addressed. Safety risks can arise at every stage, from prevention, early detection and diagnosis, to treatment and long-term management, across health care settings, homes and communities.
- Strong, integrated health systems and a supported health workforce are essential for safe care. Strengthening patient safety and the quality of care provided within CHFT, supporting colleagues and addressing barriers that affect access to safe care are key to improving care.
- People living with NCDs must be partners in safe care. Meaningful engagement, learning from people with lived experience reduces harm and leads to safer, better-quality care.
Colleagues at CHFT have been asked, what World Patient Safety Day means to them and why it is so important:
Directorate Secretary Laura Bailey and Lead Sepsis Nurse Paula McDonagh from our Quality and Safety Team, said: "For us, patient safety means our patients at CHFT receive safe, effective and appropriate care while reducing the risk of avoidable harm. NCDs include conditions which affect a lot of the population including children. This affects us both professionally and personally.
"Overall, patient safety means preventing avoidable harm and ensuring that people living with long-term conditions receive consistent, person-centred, high-quality and well-informed care."
Head Nurse for Urgent and Emergency Care, Tom Ladlow, said: "To me patient safety means making sure that even in the most pressured moments, we never lose sight of the individual behind the operational pressure, and that every decision we make protects their safety, dignity and quality of care."
Head Nurse for Medical Specialities, Vanessa Dickinson, said: "Patient safety means the creation of an environment where every patient receives compassionate, and high-quality care without preventable harms. As the head nurse in medicine, I am responsible for leading by example, maintaining compliance with clinical standards, and ensuring staff have a safe space to raise concerns. It means remaining alert, learning from incidents, supporting continuous improvement, and adopting teamwork so that every decision places the patient’s well-being, and safety first."
Our paediatric teams were also asked what patient safety meant to them:
Sister, Ava Gaye-Evans, said: “Completing my work to the best of my ability with patient safety at the heart of my care.”
Staff Nurse, Aliyah Abrar, stated: “A kind and compassionate environment for patients and staff, treating patients and colleagues as you would wish to be treated, and advocating for your patients”
Healthcare Assistant, Helen Sykes, shared that: "Protecting children from any harm while having medical treatment is pivotal to patient safety"
And Staff Nurse, Kez Baillie, added: “Creating a safe space for children and their families is crucial to maintain a safe environment.”
Orthopaedic therapy team members, Charlotte Clee and Chloe Bradley, said: “Supporting our patients to get home as soon as possible helps reduce the risk of secondary harm from staying in hospital."
Assistant Practitioner, Maureen Knight, said: “Communicating effectively amongst ourselves and other healthcare professionals helps ensure safe patient care throughout their journey”
This week, there will be various activities across the Trust, including:
Matrons within the Medicine Division will be carrying out walk-arounds which will cover pressure ulcers, falls and infection, prevention and control measures.
Within maternity, their focus for World Patient Safety Day is around ‘Informed Choice’ as this triangulates a multitude of areas, i.e. feedback, claims, complaints etc.
On World Patient Safety Day, the paediatrics department that sits within the Families and Specialist Service Division will be working with children and their families through their cancer diagnosis and treatment and carrying out various other activities to promote safety and inclusion. Colleagues will also be asked to wear something orange, such as socks, hair bobble etc. depending on if they're clinical or non-clinical.
Colleagues will also be walking around with a tea trolley for patients and staff on Children's ward and Children's Outpatients and colleagues will be displaying the work that they have been doing to keep oncology patients safe both on the ward and in the community.