NHS safety measures deliver only ‘small improvements’

The report, commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care, said while there has been a shift towards better safety practices, there has been “mixed progress” in delivering improvements.

It pointed to several organisations and professional bodies being set up to consider different aspects of patient safety, as well as inquiries and reports, but this has often led to less clarity. In maternity, more than 450 recommendations have been made in the last five years alone.

The report said: “Safety has also commanded significant resource. The various new organisations and bodies cost money (at least £60million per year), while Department of Health and Social Care-sponsored reviews and inquiries into safety are estimated to have cost at least £100million based on known costs. The indirect costs are considerably more.”

The report, from new NHS chair Dr Penny Dash, pointed to the fact the focus on safety had been at the expense on other aspects of quality of care, and also that the current system for complaints was not fit for purpose.

Its recommendations were accepted in full by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.

Law Slater and Gordon acts for individuals and families nationally who have been affected by poor standards of care in the NHS and is a passionate campaigner for change.

Ben Gent, head of clinical negligence at Slater and Gordon in Manchester, says: “Safety underpins absolutely every aspect of patient care in the NHS, but for such little progress to have been made is really not good enough. Tens of millions of pounds are being spent on attempts to solve the problems, but this report shows there is very little to show for that. In areas such as maternity, the level of recommendations made has probably ultimately made things more difficult.

“We need a very clear plan about how safety is going to be effectively addressed so patients across the country can have confidence about them and their loved ones being treated. In so many aspects of the NHS, we know that care is being delivered which is way below the standards patients need and deserve – reform is much needed and long overdue, and we hope action is taken in light of the latest reminder of the urgency to do so.”