Anyone receiving healthcare expects to receive safe and effective treatment. UK residents are fortunate that — for the most part — that expectation is upheld. The UK’s public healthcare system is considered high-quality, albeit struggling with a current staffing crisis. Generally, once patients establish access to treatment, their care is both safe and effective.
However, things can sometimes go wrong. As a patient, knowing your rights and what constitutes good practice is important. This article will assist you in understanding patient safety in healthcare and guide you through what to do when concerns arise.
1. The Foundations of Safe Healthcare Practice
At the core of the NHS’s values, the organisation acknowledges that patients have a right to a safe environment and protection from avoidable harm. That isn’t just a loosely crafted goal, though. The NHS upholds these foundations through a series of commitments, including professional standards of care. It also keeps careful documentation, such as risk assessments.
The foundations of “safe healthcare practice” don’t just hinge on semantics but on systems and habits practised daily. This approach is intended to minimise risk. However, it also sets clear expectations, which patients can review to aid their understanding.
2. Identifying and Reporting Concerns
If you’re concerned about the care you’ve received, it’s always wise to seek further information and guidance. NHS workers are always encouraged to lead with apologies, which is treated as part of the resolution process, not an admission of guilt. Equally, all staff must disclose errors as part of a duty of candour.
Often, it’s possible to arrange a follow-up appointment for smaller concerns, while for severe mistakes, it’s possible to immediately report a complaint to NHS England. Always be proactive if you believe that secondary treatment is necessary.
3. Understanding Your Rights and Seeking Redress
As a patient, you are entitled to fair treatment and a safe environment. You might have grounds for compensation if serious harm occurred due to a healthcare professional’s error, wrongdoing, or omission. In these circumstances, pursuing a medical negligence claim may be the best course of action. These cases hinge on clear identification of a negative impact caused by negligence. It’s best to speak to an experienced legal team when seeking redress.
4. Learning from Incidents and Improving Future Care
The NHS is always striving to improve patient safety and care. After an incident has occurred, rigorous steps are taken to investigate incidents, implement lessons learned, and adapt practices to prevent any similar mistakes from occurring. As a patient, your feedback is valuable to this cycle — creating a safer future for all service users.
No healthcare service is perfect. However, in the UK, you are protected by a network of rights and a system that thrives on feedback.
