21 September, 2009
University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust is reinforcing
its commitment to the Patient Safety First campaign for England by
supporting an awareness week for staff and Foundation Trust members
from today (Monday 21 September).
The Trust is one of 285 in the country to sign up to the
campaign, which is part of an international move to make hospitals
safer.
Despite the hard work and dedication of NHS staff, research has
shown that avoidable harm is occurring in hospitals across the
world: more than one in ten people admitted to hospital are harmed
unintentionally by its care.[1] The NHS is an enormous organisation
which treats more than a million people successfully every
day. But in complex healthcare systems things can, and do, go
wrong no matter how dedicated and professional the staff.
The Trust will help to implement Patient Safety First by
bringing in new ways of working that have been developed by
committed clinicians and managers from across England.
Some of these will be presented to doctors, registered nurses,
pharmacists and Foundation Trust members at a conference tomorrow
(Tuesday 22 September), which will focus on the prevention of
venous thromboembolism (VTE). The event will look at who is at risk
of developing VTE - a term which can refer to deep vein
thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) - and how it can
be avoided.
Sue Fyfe-Williams, Patient Safety Manager at the Trust, says:
The prevention of VTE is a national patient safety priority and has
been adopted by the Trust Executive Group as an organisational
imperative. The Trusts objective is that all adult patients will be
risk assessed for VTE on admission, the risk assessment documented
and the appropriate thromboprophylaxis prescribed.
Stephen Ramsden, OBE, Patient Safety First core team chairman,
says: Support from University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust is crucial in the campaign to ensure that the safety of
patients is the priority for all. Hundreds of thousands of lives
are saved in the NHS every day, yet there are many instances of
harm that could be avoided.
He adds: By working together and supporting NHS staff in putting
patient safety at the top of the agenda, we can achieve safer
hospitals, safer healthcare and save even more lives.
Dr Graham Rich, Chief Executive of University Hospitals Bristol
NHS Foundation Trust, says: I fully support Patient Safety First
and look forward to it making a real difference to patient care. We
are constantly seeking ways to improve practice; through the
support and resources provided by this campaign positive changes
will be made, lives will be saved and a safety culture will be
nurtured. No avoidable death or avoidable harm is acceptable.
More trusts are signing up to the campaign each day. Signing up
is voluntary and leads to a long-term commitment to improve working
practice and achieve tangible results to avoid harm.
(1) Brennan et al 1991, Wilson et al 1995, Vincent et al
2001.
-ENDS-
Press contacts: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation
Trust " Stephanie Feldwicke, on 0117 342 3678, or Patient Safety
First, press office on 0207 637 1237.
Notes to editors:
Key facts
¢ The US Institute for Healthcare Improvement was the first
country to launch a campaign in 2005, saving an estimated 122,000
lives in the first 18 months. Work continues today to save
even more lives amid a new standard of care that has emerged as a
result of the campaign.
¢ The campaign is sponsored by the National Patient Safety
Agency (NPSA), the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement and
The Health Foundation. However, it is unique in its approach
as it will be developed by the service, for the service, for the
benefit of patients.
¢ The campaign is initially focussing on five key areas of
change called interventions for acute trusts.
