Patient Safety Learning and RCSEd collaborate to improve patient safety in surgery

Patient Safety Learning is a charity and independent voice for improving patient safety. We believe that to address the challenge of avoidable harm in healthcare, we need to think and act differently, transforming our approach to patient safety. We believe that patient safety is not just another priority, it is a core purpose of health and social care.

We are focused on two main areas of activity: patient safety through policy influencing and campaigning; and patient safety through ‘how to’ resources, products and services.

Six foundations of safe care

In our report, A Blueprint for Action, we outline what we believe is needed to address the underlying systemic causes of avoidable harm. Underpinned by analysis and evidence, we identify six foundations of safe care for patients and practical actions to address them:

• Shared learning – organisations should set and deliver goals
  for learning, report on progress and share their insights widely for action.
• Leadership – we emphasise the importance of overarching leadership and governance for patient safety, including modelling behaviour to create a just culture.
• Professionalising patient safety – all staff are to have the skills, knowledge and support to deliver safe care; recognising that organisational standards and accreditation for patient safety need to be developed and implemented.
• Patient engagement – to ensure patients are valued and engaged in patient safety at the point of care if things go wrong and are able to co-produce improvements in services.
• Data and insight – better measurement and reporting of patient safety performance, both quantitative as well as qualitative. Not just capturing data on error and avoidable harm but proactively assessing risk.
• A just culture – all organisations should publish goals and deliver programmes to eliminate blame and fear, introduce or deepen a just culture, and measure and report transparently on progress.
• We campaign and reflect on these themes through the development of our organisational patient safety standards (‘What Good Looks Like’ in patient safety), our regular reflections on policy and by responding to consultations and reports. 

We have recently commented on the 2024 staff survey results in England, focusing on responses relating to reporting, speaking up and acting on safety concerns. This highlights that, alongside other evidence, the survey results point to a lack of progress in improving safety culture in the health service.

The hub: your gateway to free patient safety resources

Patient Safety Learning’s free, award-winning online platform, the hub, serves as a central repository of resources, toolkits, research and real-world case studies to help healthcare professionals learn from each other and apply safety strategies effectively. 

Since its launch in October 2019, the hub has attracted more than 2.8 million page views and more than 1.5 million visits. The hub now has more than 7400 members from more than 2000 organisations across more than 229 different countries.

By fostering open access to knowledge, Patient Safety Learning is helping to break down silos and build safer healthcare systems.

In the realm of surgery, the hub hosts valuable resources that address preoperative checklists, intraoperative safety protocols and postoperative care improvements — all designed to prevent avoidable harm and promote learning. Our most recent collaboration with RCSEd is our Safety in Surgery series, designed for surgeons and trainees.

Surgeons, educators and patient safety leads can tap into the latest research, best practice guidelines and tools to enhance safety within their organisations. Plus, the hub’s community feature enables professionals to share insights, ask questions and connect with their peers worldwide. 

We encourage you to share your views and improvement initiatives by becoming a member of the hub. Some recent examples of hub blogs and interviews of interest to the surgery community include:

• A conversation with Annie Hunningher and Claire Morgan on implementing National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures. 
• Our ‘Speaking Up for Patient Safety’ interviews: a new series about raising concerns and whistleblowing.
• A blog by Anna Paisley about improving diagnostic safety
  in surgery.
• An interview with Sunny Deo, an orthopaedic surgeon, and Matthew Bacon, an engineer, on using data to improve decision making and person-centred care in surgery.

You can access all of these and more on the hub.

Building stronger networks: the power of community

Patient Safety Learning supports two vibrant and continually growing networks that are instrumental in uniting healthcare leaders and educators around patient safety. They are: 

The Patient Safety Management Network. Designed for patient safety managers, clinical leaders and patient safety partners, this network of more than 2000 members provides a safe space to discuss challenges, share innovations and collaboratively solve safety issues. Regular meetings, webinars and interactive sessions enable members to learn from real-life experiences and implement successful strategies in their workplaces.

The Patient Safety Education Network. This network of more than 600 members brings together educators and training leads to shape the future of patient safety education. Members share curricula, teaching techniques and educational resources, working together to ensure that safety remains a core component of clinical training. RCSEd educators are encouraged to join and contribute their expertise to build a culture of safety from the ground up.

Join the movement – get involved

For those eager to deepen their engagement with patient safety, joining Patient Safety Learning’s hub and networks is a simple but impactful step. Membership is free and the connections, insights and resources available can make a tangible difference in how safety is integrated into surgical care.

By working together — sharing knowledge, learning from one another and continuously striving for improvement — we can create a future where every patient experiences the safest possible care.

Visit pslhub.org/register or scan the QR code to sign up to the hub, explore the latest resources and become part of a growing community dedicated to making healthcare safer for all.