Patient safety

Patient safety

Patient safety

Patient Safety

The NHS Patient Safety Strategy

Patient safety is about maximising the things that go right and minimising the things that go wrong. It is integral to the NHS definition of quality in healthcare, alongside effectiveness and patient experience.  

This strategy sets out what the NHS will do to achieve its vision to continuously improve patient safety, building on the foundations of a safer culture and safer systems.

As and Integrated Care Board (ICB), we are committed to ensuring the strategy remains focused on activity that will have the greatest impact on patient safety improvement.

Patient Safety

The Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

The framework will replace the current Serious Incident Response Framework by Autumn 2023 and represents a significant shift in the way the NHS responds to patient safety incidents, centring on compassion and involving those affected; system based approaches to learning and improvement; considered and proportionate responses; and supportive oversight.

CPICB Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) Policy

Why is it changing?

From September 2022, there will be a phased 12-month period of preparation for secondary care providers ahead of completing the transition from the existing Serious Incident Framework.

PSIRF is a major step towards improving safety management across the healthcare system in England and will greatly support the NHS to embed the key principles of patient safety culture.  It will ensure the NHS focuses on understanding how incidents happen, rather than apportioning blame on individuals; allowing for more effective learning and improvement, and ultimately making NHS care safer for patients.

PSIRF removes the requirement that all/only incidents meeting the criteria of a ‘serious incident’ are investigated, allowing for other incidents to be investigated and for learning response resource to focus on areas with the greatest potential for patient safety improvement.

Alongside the framework, a ‘Guide to engaging and involving patients, families and staff following a patient safety incident’ has also been published, setting out expectations for how those affected by a patient safety incident should be treated with compassion and involved in any investigation process.  

PSIRF makes the leaders of provider organisations accountable for high quality incident responses while integrated care boards will consider their providers’ overall approach rather than each individual response.

Patient Safety Partners

Patient Safety Partners

The NHS Patient Safety Strategy sets out the expectation that patients should be included in the surveillance and management of patient safety. 

The ICB will be appointing members of the public to be Patient Safety Partners (PSPs) who will be highly involved in the organisation’s safety culture. Their role will be to attend committees and meetings across the ICB, being involved in patient safety improvement projects, working with the Board to improve patient safety, and be involved in training for staff around patient safety.

If you are interested in the opportunity to become one of our Patient Safety Partners, please follow our social media accounts where adverts will be placed or follow the link below for further information.

Become a Patient Safety Partner

Could you become a Patient Safety Partner supporting the people of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough?

Do you have an interest in becoming involved in how we can develop our health and care services so that they are safer for our patients? Are you or have you ever been a patient, carer, or family member of someone who has used any health and care services? If so, we would like to hear from you.

The Patient Safety Partner (PSP) role is open to members of the public to work as an advisor to help support the delivery of safe healthcare across the Integrated Care System (ICS). The level of involvement may vary depending on skills and experience.

We are seeking motivated and interested individuals who are committed to contributing to safe and effective care to enhance patient, experience and improve patient outcomes.

PSP’s will be renumerated for their work. Training required for the role and any preparation time prior and post meetings will be paid, along with expenses incurred as a result of travel related costs. This is in line with the NHS England (2021) ‘Working with our patient and public voices (PPV) partners, reimbursing expenses, and paying involvement payments’.

A key part of this role will be attendance at specific committees, groups, and boards to support and promote patient safety, providing constructive challenge to ensure system wide learning in the development and implementation of this process. The PSP should ensure that any committee/group of which they are a member considers and prioritises the service user, patient, carer, and family perspective and encourages a diversity of opinions. To ensure this, successful applicants will require the following skills and experience:

  • Have had previous relevant experience of being a patient, carer of someone using health and/or social care services or have had a lived experience of a safety event, with the ability to objectively share the learning to enhance quality of care, without causing personal distress.
  • Ensure a patient’s voice is heard in key committees and local review forums to advocate on behalf of patients across ICS partner organisations.
  • Represent the local population and key communities, in terms of health and social care needs.
  • Confident to contribute to discussions in large groups and can critically challenge in a constructive, positive, and polite way.
  • Able to respect and listen to other points of view and can accept the decision-making process, understanding this may not always meet their desired outcome.

Activities that the PSP may be involved in could include:

  • Membership of safety and quality committees whose responsibilities include the review and analysis of quality, patient safety and mortality information.
  • Involvement in work that aims to improve health and care outcomes for patients.
  • Working with organisational committees/boards to consider how to improve patient safety across the local health and social care system.
  • Participation in patient safety incident and investigation oversight groups.

Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICS recognise, value, and support the important role PSP’s will play and welcome their active contributions. We will ensure that PSP’s work collaboratively with quality service leads to promote patient safety and health inclusion.

PSP’s will receive a robust induction and training programme, with regular support from other local PSP’s. Designated support and guidance will be provided to ensure development within the role.

For further information please contact: cpicb.qualitydirectorate@nhs.net or visit the webpage here.