Written Question · S4W-03587 · Session 4
In light of the findings of the 2010 Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Independent Inquiry, what steps have been taken to ensure that …
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive, in light of the findings of the 2010 Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Independent Inquiry, what steps have been taken to ensure that all NHS staff understand that they have a responsibility to report concerns about practices that may affect patient safety.
The answer
Following the publication of the investigation findings on the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, the Chief Executive of NHS Scotland wrote to all health boards in March 2009 asking them to clarify their local arrangements to detect and act on shortcomings in standards of care. In response, NHS boards provided a range of examples of measures in place, including monitoring and tracking arrangements of infection rates, tracking mortality rates and monitoring and reviewing of clinical incidents via their clinical governance committees.
This work has continued to evolve and there is now a national early warning scorecard that has been developed with an agreed set of indicators. This allows health boards to identify where there are areas of concern which require more detailed investigation, and assists with quality assurance of patient care.
NHSScotland has also introduced the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP), a national programme that aims for a reduction of 30% in adverse events and a 15% reduction in mortality rates in Scotland’s acute hospitals.
One of the key objectives of the programme is to improve leadership and organisational culture on safety. Two of the main strands of that work are the introduction of Patient Safety Walkrounds and the implementation of safety briefings.
The Dealing with Employee Concerns PIN Policy is currently under review and a new PIN that deals with whistleblowing specifically is under development. This PIN sets out when and how they should raise their concerns about issues including practices that may affect patient safety.
This work has continued to evolve and there is now a national early warning scorecard that has been developed with an agreed set of indicators. This allows health boards to identify where there are areas of concern which require more detailed investigation, and assists with quality assurance of patient care.
NHSScotland has also introduced the Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP), a national programme that aims for a reduction of 30% in adverse events and a 15% reduction in mortality rates in Scotland’s acute hospitals.
One of the key objectives of the programme is to improve leadership and organisational culture on safety. Two of the main strands of that work are the introduction of Patient Safety Walkrounds and the implementation of safety briefings.
The Dealing with Employee Concerns PIN Policy is currently under review and a new PIN that deals with whistleblowing specifically is under development. This PIN sets out when and how they should raise their concerns about issues including practices that may affect patient safety.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-03587 by reference.