First do no harm is the pledge doctors sign up to when they start to practice. But despite the constant hard work and best intentions of NHS staff, many patients suffer complications when they receive treatment from us. The same is true in healthcare systems across the world.

Increasingly, staff and patients are showing that you can improve patient safety and demanding action. This is about sorting out our processes and systems so that doctors and nurses aren’t distracted from giving the quality care they joined the NHS to provide.

The programme began in July 2007 and is expected to run for 3 years.

When the Chief Medical Officer published Safety First, we were given a remit to:

• Develop the skills staff need to improve patient safety.
• With our partners, run a national campaign on patient safety.

To build the momentum and examples we need to do this we will:

• Create a core group of people and organisations with cutting edge skills in this area.
We are starting with hospitals, where the evidence base is strongest. In future years we will also work with GPs and other people who provide care outside hospital.

John Wright, Clinical Director, Bradford

“Health professionals are passionate about efforts to save lives. Senior managers want reassurance about governance standards. Patients want to know that their hospital is safe. It is a natural top priority.”

Institute for Healthcare Improvement Tools - Trigger tools, including a neo-natal ICU trigger tool can be found on the IHI website.