Patient Safety: an election priority?
Monday 21 September 2009
International Convention Centre, Bournemouth
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| From L-R: Cynthia Bower, Tim Walker, Dr Anna van der Gaag, Dr Anna Dixon, Tony Hazell, Sandra Gidley MP. |
Chair: Shadow Health Minister Sandra Gidley MP
Speakers: Dr Anna Dixon, the Kings Fund; Cynthia Bower, Care Quality Commission; Professor Tony Hazell, Nursing & Midwifery Council; Dr Anna van der Gaag, Health Professions Council; Tim Walker, General Medical Council
Read NMC Chair Tony Hazell's speech
Dignity and cleanliness
Opening the fringe Cynthia Bower, the Chief Executive of the Care Quality Commission, asserted that many patients still did not feel safe on wards and that this was a key issue. She further stressed that there was a need for good health care professionals, strong leadership and accountable boards. Continuing Ms Bower indicated that she envisaged a system in which standards were based on dignity and cleanliness amongst other principles as well as a more cultural readiness of healthcare professions speaking out on issues.
Not just an election issue
Tim Walker of the GMC outlined that in his view patient safety was not just an election issue and should be a continuing priority. He stressed that there was a need for doctors to be analysed and tested throughout their careers. Continuing he highlighted the licence to practice scheme that would be brought in but called for support for practitioners and warned against overburdening them with bureaucracy.
Active and transparent
Dr Anna van der Gaag of the Health Professions Council asserted that regulatory bodies needed to be more active and transparent against the backdrop of the recession. She called for stronger powers in respect of counsellors and psychotherapists. In terms of the regulator itself she outlined that she had a preference for an all-incorporating regulator that could achieve economies of scale savings.
Inconsistent regulation
Professor Tony Hazell of the Nursing & Midwifery Council outlined that much of the imminent legislation on regulation in healthcare was inconsistent and that it could lead to a culture in which practitioners feel uneasy about reporting concerns. Continuing he indicated that many nurses and midwives felt that concerns were ignored or felt that raising concerns could hamper their careers.
Open culture of reporting
Liberal Democrat Shadow Health Minister Sandra Gidley MP outlined that she was trying to drive forward a select committee on patients' safety. She detailed that health care professionals were not intentional in compromising safety but that in many cases it was a matter of poor training. Continuing Ms Gidley asserted that there was a need for a more open culture of reporting.
Closer links
In response to a question on what a Liberal Democrat led Government would favour Ms Bower outlined that she would like to see increased measures developing closer links between different branches of the healthcare profession in order to facilitate better safety. She lambasted the nature of ‘tough’ regulators as this in turn often resulted in cover-ups.
Promoting patient safety
Dr van der Gaag called for a more equal relationship between patients and practitioners. Professor Hazell indicated that he would happily support any measures that promoted patient safety and the improved image of it.
Engagement with actual patients
Ms Gidley stressed that greater patient involvement was highly desirable and called for engagement with actual patients rather than representative organisations. In terms of regulation she outlined that regulators should be the ‘best friend’ of healthcare practitioners rather than being seen as policemen.
Greater clarity
Dr van der Gaag further asserted that her organisation was not interested in reducing incentives through regulation. She further outlined that there needed to be greater clarity in guidelines for medical students and an acceptance that students were not the same people at the end of their courses as they were when they commenced them.
Escalating concerns
In terms of ‘whistle blowing’ Professor Hazell indicated that the term itself was counter productive. He stressed the need for confidence amongst professionals that their careers would not be hampered by escalating concerns.
First created: 02/10/2009