The Island’s first ever patient safety conference was held yesterday (20 November) for staff from Noble’s Hospital. The conference had the aim of maintaining the already high profile focus on good patient safety and its role as a means of ensuring high quality care and outcomes for patients.
The conference comes following the appointment of Sue Waddecar as Patient Safety and Quality Manager in late 2013 and the appointment of breast surgeon Ms Millie Bello as Associate Medical Director with responsibility for patient safety.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said:
'The safety of those who use health and social care services remains firmly at the very top of the Department’s agenda. Patient and service user safety, and the governance systems that accompany it, sits at the heart of how we can improve services and outcomes. I very much welcome this initiative, which has provided staff with an update on a number of areas both on the Island and further afield in the UK, but with a sharp focus on the experience and needs of patients.'
The day was opened by the Minister and continued with a number of speakers including Professor Peter Hutton, Medical Adviser to the Francis Inquiry, who spoke about the national perspective following the findings of the patient safety failures at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Delegates also heard from the new Medical Director Dr Jugnu Mahajan, who spoke about the vision for patient safety in the Isle of Man; Dr Lynne Hulme of the Isle of Man Health and Care Association, who spoke about patient advocacy; and Peter Walsh, the Chief Executive of Action Against Medical Accidents – a UK charity that campaigns on patient safety and justice – who spoke about the patient’s perspective. Norman Kneen, a public/patient representative outlined the work representatives undertake to champion patient safety within the Island’s health service.
Sue Waddecar said:
'There has been a great deal of positive feedback from the conference and it has served to give a broader perspective on the challenges facing the health care profession in delivering safe, high quality and effective care.
'We continually look for ways to enhance the quality of the care we provide patients. Having time to take stock, come together as health care providers and hear from other professionals, share experiences and learn about best practice is a tried and tested way of achieving this. We’re very grateful to the speakers from outside of the Department, particularly those from the UK, who kindly agreed to take part and I would like to extend my thanks to them on behalf of the Department.'
