Over the last three years researchers from seven departments within SPCR have developed, piloted and implemented a ‘patient safety toolkit’ for general practices.The toolkit consists of a range of ‘tools’ that can be used to provide a multifaceted assessment of patient safety in practices. The tools range from an online ‘safety climate’ survey, to several different types of ‘audit’ that identify safety problems and enable practices to put these right. A brand-new survey has been developed that assesses patients’ reported experiences of safety in general practices. The toolkit has been implemented in 50 general practices across England has received positive feedback.
With support from the RCGP Spotlight Project competition, the team will create a website to host the patient safety toolkit so that it can be available to all general practices. The initiative will also to be supported by the NIHR Greater Manchester Primary Care Patient Safety Translational Research Centre.
For more information on the patient safety toolkit, there is a Q&A with Tony Avery and Kate Marsden on the RCGP website. Protecting patients through safe practice