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Patient safety top of the agenda at key conference

14 March 2013

 

A leading regional health professional who was personally selected by the Prime Minister to spearhead a review into NHS complaints across the country addressed issues around patient safety at a two day conference at Teesside University.

Professor Tricia Hart, Chief Executive of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, welcomed hundreds of professionals, academics and students to the third Patient Safety Conference in Teesside. The unique NHS QUEST conference, held jointly with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Teesside University, was entitled ‘patient safety – it starts with me’ and reflected on the challenges that focussing on patient safety brings. Professor Hart, who is also on the Board of Governors at Teesside University, was one of a small team of assessors appointed to work alongside Sir Robert Francis QC on the Francis Report. Published earlier this year, the report highlighted the “appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of patients” at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust between 2005 and 2009. Following its publication, Professor Hart, along with Labour MP Ann Clwyd, was appointed by David Cameron to advise on how patient complaints are handled across the country and help to ensure mistakes at Mid Staffordshire are not repeated. Professor Hart invited Sir Robert Francis QC to speak at the Patient Safety Conference and he addressed the findings in his report and covered topics such as safe and reliable care, infection prevention and control, leadership and patient experience. Professor Hart said 'Patient safety has to be at the heart of the NHS. We need to build on the evidence and the learning in driving patient safety improvement. 'It was a huge privilege to work alongside Robert Francis for three years and I am personally delighted he was our guest speaker, sharing his reflections so soon following the publication of the Inquiry into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust. 'I am also extremely honoured that I have been asked by David Cameron, Prime Minister, to jointly lead alongside Ann Clwyd MP a national review into complaints. 'This excellent conference, developed in partnership with our university colleagues, is a perfect medium that underpins our vision that we can demonstrate we provide the safest care to our patients.' The Patient Safety Conference took place across two days on Wednesday 20 and Thursday 21 March, in Teesside University’s Centuria Building. It was aimed at healthcare staff, academic staff, healthcare commissioners and providers and healthcare students. The conference was an example of the partnership working of Teesside University’s School of Health & Social Care which works to enhance the quality of care to service users. It was also another opportunity for students on health and social care courses to address issues in the profession alongside their academic study. Professor Paul Keane OBE, Dean of the School of Health & Social Care, said: 'We were delighted to host this year’s Patient Safety Conference in collaboration with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. 'The keynote speakers addressed some of the major issues around patient safety and I am sure the conference was extremely beneficial for everybody who attended. 'The School of Health & Social Care prides itself on its collaborative working and this conference was another example of our excellence in ensuring our students and health care professionals have access to relevant, thought-provoking and innovative events.' Also speaking at the Patient Safety Conference was be Dr Ron Daniels, Chief Executive Officer for the Global Sepsis Alliance, which helps people understand and combat what many experts believe to be the leading cause of death worldwide – sepsis.


 
 
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