New report outlines ambition for the future of education and training for patient safety

A new report setting out the future of education and training for patient safety in the NHS over the next 10 years is being launched at an event in London today.

Produced by the Commission on Education and Training for Patient Safety and supported by Imperial College the report sets out ambitions, the case for change, what is working well including case studies and where improvements need to be made to make the greatest difference to patient safety both now and in the future.

The commission was set up by Health Education England (HEE) to focus on how education and training interventions can actively improve patient safety.  Their report makes a number of recommendations to Health Education England (HEE) and the wider system.

Chaired by Professor Sir Norman Williams, a former president of the Royal College of Surgeons and vice-chaired by Sir Keith Pearson, Chair of Health Education England. The Commission gathered evidence through focus groups, interviews, regional visits and online surveys; from patients and their families, carers, students and trainees, frontline staff and executives, as well as sought the views of international experts and national organisations.

Professor Wendy Reid, Director of Education and Quality at Health Education England said:

We welcome this report and thank the Commission for their work. The system needs to learn from errors and embrace transparency. Patients should be at the centre of care, we need to actively involve patients, carers and families in how we raise patient safety standards.

This report is different from previous reports on patient safety published because for the first time, the focus is on how education and training interventions can actively improve patient safety.

Key report recommendations include:

• HEE to work with partner organisations to facilitate the development of an evaluation framework to ensure that all education and training for patient safety commissioned in future, is effectively evaluated using robust models.
• HEE and the relevant regulators of education to ensure that future education and training emphasises the important role of patients, family members and carers in preventing safety incidents and improving patient safety.
• A review of mandatory training requirement and the delivery of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) related to patient safety.
• HEE to help create a culture of openness and transparency by reviewing existing training packages to ensure they support the duty of candour regulations.