Patient Safety-Background

1. Patient Safety-Background Dr Noeleen Devaney Director, NI Clinical and Social Care Governance Support Team

2. Context Improving Patient Safety now a regional, national and international priority Evidence base for �what works� is almost exclusively from health care but Much (apart from specific clinical interventions) has �read over� value for social care so think patient/client rather than patient Tremendous work already ongoing in N Ireland in relation to improving safety of care provided

3. The Problem�. Healthcare is not as safe as it should or could be despite the best intentions of a dedicated and highly skilled workforce Unintended harm and unnecessary deaths are the all too frequent outcome of pressurized healthcare systems 30-40% of patients do not receive care in line with current scientific evidence An Organisation with a Memory (UK, 2000) estimated 10 percent of hospital admissions are associated with an adverse event- 850,000 adverse events per year in UK hospitals Following the publication of Tomorrow�s Doctors in 1993 lot of interest in learning styles. Are our students ready for self-directed learning? Following the publication of Tomorrow�s Doctors in 1993 lot of interest in learning styles. Are our students ready for self-directed learning?

4. Cost of Adverse Events Patients and families Healthcare staff -the second victims Financial-additional hospital stays alone estimated to cost �2000m annually in UK