To support the NHS to further improve patient safety, all NHS Trusts and providers are preparing for the introduction of a new Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF).
From 1 July 2023, Mersey Care will begin to respond to patient safety incidents according to PSIRF. We recognise and acknowledge the significant impact patient safety incidents can have on patients, service users, their families, and carers.
We will use a variety of ways to identify learning and make improvements following an incident where a patient or service user was or could have been harmed.
This is a major step towards establishing a safety management system across the whole of the NHS.
The PSIRF supports the development and maintenance of an effective patient safety incident response system that brings together four aims:
- Compassionate engagement and involvement of those affected by patient safety incidents
- The application of a range of system-based approaches to our learning from patient safety incidents
- Considered and proportionate responses to patient safety incidents
- Supportive oversight which focusses on strengthening responses and system improvements.
At Mersey Care, our Patient Safety team are leading the PSIRF implementation to make sure that our work links with the wider health and care system.
A guide to PSIRF is available to read.
We recently recruited 2 Patient Safety Partners (PSPs)to support our patient safety work by making sure the patient’s voice is heard throughout our processes. This is a new role which will develop over time and we will consider whether further PSP recruitment is needed to support the patient safety work in Mersey Care. To learn more about what their role entails and view details for possible future recruitment, go to https://www.merseycare.nhs.uk/PSP