NMC welcomes Patient Safety Commissioner’s Patient Safety Principles
Published on 23 October 2024
These principles are a guide for leaders at all levels on how to design and deliver safer care for patients and reduce avoidable harm in a safe and learning culture.
Sam Foster, Executive Nurse Director of Professional Practice at the NMC, said:
“We welcome these principles, which emphasise that patient safety must always be at the heart of health and social care. Everyone deserves safe, effective, and person-centred care that respects their individual needs. Our standards for nursing and midwifery professionals stress the importance of treating people with dignity and respect, while actively listening and responding to their concerns.
“Upholding a culture of safety is a responsibility for everyone working in health and social care. Leaders must foster open communication and empower both professionals and the public to raise concerns. Acting promptly on these issues is essential for instilling confidence in our safety systems. Tackling health inequalities and listening to feedback from individuals and communities is also vital to promoting equity in care.
“Transparency and accountability are key to keeping people safe, underpinned by the professional duty of candour — being open and honest when things go wrong. Through dialogue and continuous learning, we can better identify risks and improve care outcomes.
“We continue to collaborate with our partners to promote a just and restorative culture that prioritises continuous improvement to ensure the best possible care for people.”
Further information:
Our campaign, ‘Good leadership means better care,’ highlights resources that underscore the vital role of effective leadership in enabling teams to deliver safe, high-quality care.
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