See what people are saying about the Patient Safety Principles...
‘We welcome the principles set out by the Patient Safety Commissioner which align with NHS values. We remain committed to working in partnership with patients to improve safety across the system.’
Professor Sir Stephen Powis - NHS National Medical Director
‘As my recent investigation found, continuously improving patient safety must remain a priority for the NHS. The Patient Safety Principles helpfully apply many of the key elements of the NHS Constitution to the specific issue of patient safety. Leaders should reflect on how their organisation is putting the Principles into practice, and ensure they are embedded in how the NHS operates. These principles will support the NHS’s aim to deliver high quality care for all, all of the time.’
Lord Darzi
‘These principles reinforce our long-standing commitment to patients as equal partners in their care and in system-wide decision-making. To maximise their impact, we encourage healthcare leaders to implement these safety principles alongside our patient partnership framework, ensuring a comprehensive approach to patient-centred, safe healthcare.’
Rachel Power - Patients Association
‘It is crucial doctors work in effective environments where they feel safe, empowered, and safe to speak up, so they can provide the best patient care possible. How these principles will apply ultimately depends on the roles and responsibilities of the individual, but we believe they will be useful for all healthcare workers, whether providing leadership to colleagues, their organisation, profession, or the sector as a whole.’
Charlie Massey - Chief Executive of the General Medical Council
‘I am delighted to endorse your Patient Safety Principles. In doing so I would like to add two thoughts. First, I think all clinicians especially doctors have the responsibility to assure themselves that the outcomes of the treatments that they have provided for their patients have not caused harm and if they suspect that they may have done so then they take responsibility to put matters right as far as they are able. Second that when things do go wrong, they do not seek to blame but rather to understand why, whether this was avoidable and if it was then to ensure that they and the teams or systems that they are part of learn the lessons to reduce the risk of it happening again.’
Professor Sir Cyril Chantler
‘The Royal College of Psychiatrists strongly support these principles, which if consistently adopted will ensure services never forget what their purpose is; to put the needs of patients at the heart of everything they do. These principles are applicable at all layers of the system, from the member of staff on the ward right through to those in Government setting the direction of travel. We will do all we can as an organisation to promote their use in all parts of the mental health system’
Dr Lade Smith - President, Royal College of Psychiatrists
‘These Patient Safety Principles are an essential guide for organisations and leaders at all levels to ensure equity in the design and delivery of safer care for all patients. Robust application of the Patient Safety Principles will contribute towards efforts in tackling health inequalities and towards reducing avoidable harm. They provide a helpful framework for partnership working, planning and for meaningful engagement with patients from all backgrounds.’
Professor Habib Naqvi - NHS Race and Health Observatory
‘Effective use and sharing of data are crucial for improving patient safety and healthcare outcomes. Taken together, these principles refocus us on what matters most, offering clear guidance for the NHS at every level. They outline the behaviours we must champion – and, as leaders, exemplify – to ensure we provide the safe, effective, and compassionate patient care we all want and expect our NHS to provide.’
Dr Nicola Byrne - National Data Guardian for Health and Social Care
‘Too many avoidable errors in the NHS arise from ignoring patients’ concerns. We support these principles, which emphasise the importance of listening to patients to identify issues and learn when mistakes happen.’
Louise Ansari - Chief Executive of Healthwatch England
‘In endorsing these principles, the National Guardian’s Office recognises they key role leaders have in fostering the right environment to ensure patient safety, quality and equity is at the heart of all health care. Listening to, and working in partnership with, patients and workers is fundamental to this.’
Dr. Jayne Chidgey-Clark - National Guardian for the NHS
‘NHS Resolution is pleased to support the new Patient Safety Principles. These comprehensive principles align closely with our mission to provide expertise to the NHS to resolve claims fairly, share learning for improvement to reduce avoidable harm, and preserve resources for patient care. The holistic approach taken in these principles, addressing aspects such as creating a culture of safety and putting patients at the heart of everything, resonate strongly with our cross-system efforts to improve quality and safety of care.’
‘NHS Resolution supports the implementation of these principles as a guide for healthcare leaders of all levels across the healthcare system to help create a safer environment for all patients and healthcare workers.’
Megan Bidde - Director of Safety and Learning, NHS Resolution
‘We very much endorse these principles which align closely with our Trust values of compassion, curiosity, collaboration, openness, honesty and transparency. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust is fully committed to embedding the Patient Safety Principles across all of the work we do and we believe they will act as an essential guide for leaders across our organisation.’