Tuesday 17 September is World Patient Safety Day - bringing together patients, families, caregivers, communities, health workers, healthcare leaders and policymakers to show their commitment to patient safety.
Patient safety is a vital part of our Trust Strategy to put patients first and we mark World Patient Safety Day each year to raise awareness of the role we all play in keeping patients safe.
The theme for this year’s World Patient Safety Day’s is focused on improving diagnosis for patient safety, using the slogan ‘Get it right, make it safe!’. A diagnosis identifies a patient’s health problem. It involves discussion with the patient, examination, testing and review of results before reaching the final diagnosis and treatment. Errors can occur at any stage and delayed, incorrect or missed diagnosis can prolong illness and sometimes cause disability or even death.
- Correct and timely diagnosis is the first step to preventative interventions and effective treatment - Diagnostic errors account for 16% of preventable patient harm and are common in all healthcare settings. Diagnostic errors can include missed, incorrect, delayed or miscommunicated diagnoses.
- Understanding the diagnostic process is key to reducing errors - The diagnostic process involves many iterative steps, including the patient’s initial presentation; history taking and examination; diagnostic testing, discussion, and communication of results; collaboration and coordination; final diagnosis and treatment plan; follow-up and re-evaluation. Errors can occur at any stage.
- A range of solutions are available to address diagnostic errors - Policymakers and healthcare leaders should foster positive workplace environments and provide quality diagnostic tools. Health workers are encouraged to continuously develop their skills and address unconscious bias in judgement and actively engage patients throughout their diagnostic journey.
- Diagnosis is a team effort - Correct and timely diagnosis requires collaboration among patients, families, caregivers, health workers, healthcare leaders and policymakers. All stakeholders must be engaged in shaping the diagnostic process and empowered to voice any concerns.
To mark the day, we will be sharing key information on our social media channels and digital screens and lighting up our main hospital sites orange - alongside other buildings across the world - to highlight the importance of correct and timely diagnosis for patient safety.
We will be holding our own virtual Patient Safety Day event on Tuesday 5 November. We have very exciting plans for the day, including some outstanding speakers. We will share more information in the coming weeks - in the meantime, save the date!
For more information, please visit: World Patient Safety Day 2024 (who.int).