Press release: Open and fair culture crucial to improving patient safety say NHS Confederation and National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA)
28 Feb 2003
The NHS Confederation and the NPSA today launch a joint publication aimed at stimulating discussion around greater openness and improved patient safety in the NHS. 'Creating the virtuous circle: patient safety, accountability and an open and fair culture' focuses on how to create a culture within the NHS that supports and encourages system-wide accountability, rather than focusing on individual blame.
The paper reflects the findings of two seminars held by the NHS Confederation and the NPSA in 2002, entitled 'Towards an Open and Fair Culture'. The seminars were designed to stimulate debate amongst key stakeholder groups of NHS organisations, patient groups, staff organisations and regulatory bodies as to:
- what constitutes a fair and open NHS culture in the context of responding to error
- the implications of moving to such a culture
- the practical steps required to create this new culture.
Alastair Henderson, policy manager for the NHS Confederation said: "'Creating a virtuous circle' is a practical example of what is meant by culture change in the NHS. These proposals offer a 'win-win' situation of improving patient safety and changing the way the NHS behaves."
"Creating an open and fair culture, where staff and the NHS as a whole can learn from adverse events and clinical errors, is essential if we are to improve patient safety." said Professor Rory Shaw of NPSA.
- Ends -
Notes for editors
- The NHS Confederation represents the organisations that make up the NHS. Members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts, health authorities and local health groups in Wales; trusts and NHS boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
- The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA), established in 2001, has a key role in implementing the patient safety agenda, and will establish and maintain a national system for reporting, analysing and learning from adverse events and near misses involving NHS patients. The NPSA's key aims involve:
- establishing and managing a national reporting and learning system for adverse
- events and near misses
- assimilating safety-related information from other organisations
- designing solutions that prevent harm
- setting targets and monitoring progress
- promoting research
- advising ministers and others on patient safety issues
- promoting an open and fair culture in the NHS
- developing memoranda of understanding with other key healthcare organisations that ave an interest or involvement in patient safety
'Creating the virtuous circle: patient safety, accountability and an open and fair culture' will be launched on 28 February 2003, 8.30 - 10.00am, at the NPSA, 4-8 Maple Street, London W1T 5HD
Contact details
- Contact Media Relations Manager Joanna Clason on 020 7074 3306 or 07798 571078 or Senior Media Officer Amy Darlington on 020 7074 3304 or 07767 770309. For out of hours media enquiries, please call the Duty Press Officer on 07880 500726.
- To arrange interviews with the National Patient Safety Agency please contact
Gabrielle Teague (Acting Head of Communications) on 020 7927 9368.
Back to media centre
