Recommendation 13 of Safety First (Department of Health, England, 2006) called for the development of a network of ‘patient safety champions' drawn from patients and the public, to work with the NHS to improve patient safety by bringing patient experience and perspectives to this work.  The rationale was that experience around the world shows that it is in the countries where there is such involvement of patients that work on patient safety is most successful.  The recommendation was that the initiative has close links to the Patients For Patient Safety (PFPS) workstream of the WHO World Alliance for Patient Safety which has pioneered the concept of patient safety ‘champions'. 

A call for volunteers was launched at a meeting for patients and healthcare professionals with an interest in patient safety, in March by AvMA in partnership with the National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA).  Twenty two people attended a two day Induction Workshop in London, on 20th and 21st May as part of this first wave of in-country Patients For Patient Safety Champions selected to represent England and Wales.  Additionally, 10 healthcare professionals from Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) in England and 1 member of the Patient Safety Action Team in Wales joined the Workshop on day two. 

Patients, their carers or patient advocates met together on day one of the Workshop to share their personal stories and experience of what happens when things go wrong in the care provided by the NHS (National Health Service).  Common themes emerged around errors in treatment, diagnosis and care, and many people expressed dismay at the culture of denial which persists among healthcare professionals in the aftermath of a serious incident.  Much discussion featured on the failures in policy and process to address the issues and prevent similar incidents and accidents from recurring.  A key principle of the initiative is not to duplicate or replace existing work on patient safety or on involving patients and the public in patient safety work, but rather to complement and support it. In future, through this initiative, Patient Safety Champions will be supported to provide the patients' perspective in improving patient safety at all levels; locally, regionally and nationally, throughout England and Wales.

If you would like to be involved and contribute to improving patient safety by joining our wider 'Network' of individuals please email safety@avma.org.uk