The Role of Boards in Improving Patient Safety
"Patient care inevitably raises issues of safety. Safety measures can never be failsafe, but they can always be improved. The aim of this publication is to offer guidance to boards on helping to bring about these improvements."
On the 15th June 2010, Monitor published guidance designed to support best practices and suggest levers in order to help boards address the complex issue of patient safety. It is an amalgamation of key elements, best practices and the actions that a board of directors can take to ensure safe patient care. It identifies six elements crucial for delivering patient care:
- leadership;
- staff engagement;
- guidelines and training;
- safety metrics;
- the learning cycle; and
- resourcing.
This publication was developed by Monitor for NHS foundation trusts, though its principles apply equally to other NHS settings. It draws on evidence and best practices from UK pilot sites, and also taps the experience of healthcare providers in other developed countries who use similar principles and approaches.
The field research and work with the UK pilot sites took place between October 2009 and March 2010.
For a full copy of the publication, visit:
http://www.monitor-nhsft.gov.uk/sites/default/files/Board's%20role%20in%20patient%20safety%20June%202010.pdf