Junior doctors are a pivotal target group to improve safety, yet the importance of their role is often overlooked. Junior doctors are the ‘eyes and ears’ for the organisation as to where patient safety could be compromised and how processes could be made safer and we need to engage and empower them as pro-active Agents of Change.
Over the last year, the NHS East Midlands QIPP Safer Care workstream has been working to increase the engagement of junior doctors in patient safety, through various initiatives.
The key objectives have been to:
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Improve exposure of junior doctors to patient safety teaching through local teaching programmes
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Improve safety climate of workplace through establishment of junior-doctor led, multi-professional Patient Safety Forums
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Increase the number of junior doctors engaged in PDSA activities related to QIPP Safe Care regional and national priorities
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Increase engagement of junior doctors with organisational priorities and provide a sense of collegiate membership of organisation.
Progress so far has included:
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A Safety Culture Assessment Tool for Junior Doctors has now been completed by 450 junior doctors
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30 Foundation Year junior doctors, in teams of five (one per Trust) have completed PDSA projects related to patient safety
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Four acute trusts and one mental health trust have agreed to set up ‘Patient Safety Forums’ or Committees with active junior doctor involvement. Each is at various stages of progress with this
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A regional event - ‘Building A Future for Safer Care’ - was staged in March 2011 to showcase innovations and projects from junior doctors engaged in patient safety work. More information about this event is available by downloading the delegate pack below.
