Our Commitment to Patient Safety
Patient safety is paramount at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and we are dedicated to providing high quality care to ensure the highest standards of patient safety. In February, we were delighted to achieve the highest standard of risk control for our clinical services, as measured by the NHS Litigation Authority.
To further demonstrate our commitment to patient safety, Alder Hey has signed up to a national safety initiative in England called ‘Patient Safety First’. This initiative is jointly sponsored by the National Patient Safety Agency, the Health Foundation and NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement. The two main objectives of this initiative are:
• To establish an NHS where there is no ‘avoidable deaths’ and no ’avoidable harm’ to patients.
• To ensure the safety of patients’ is everyone’s highest priority.
Our pledge to put patient safety at the heart of what we do is underlined in our strategic aims:
• Safety is a fundamental part of clinical excellence.
• Safety is a fundamental part of the positive experience for patients and families.
• We aim to be the provider of first choice because of our commitment to quality and safety.
• We will continue to support safety through research and innovation.
• We will not compromise safety; improvements to our financial strength will be invested in safety.
• We will ensure that our staff have the right skills, motivation and leadership for safety.
• Safety will be at the forefront of the designs for our new Children’s Health Park
The Patient Safety First Team at Alder Hey is celebrating the 2nd National Patient Safety First Week from 15th to 21st November 2010. Various activities for staff and visitors have been organised while visitors will be encouraged to take part in a short survey or provide valuable suggestions on how Alder Hey can continue to ensure the highest levels of patient safety for all.
