AvMA welcomes new patient safety charity and calls for more action to protect patients

Published: 9 Oct 2019

AvMA welcomes today’s announcement by Jeremy Hunt of a new charity to gather data on patient safety and harm in healthcare. As the UK’s leading patient safety charity we advise thousands of patients and families every year whose lives have been torn apart by completely avoidable harm that can have a devastating long-term impact on those affected.

We commend Mr Hunt for his work highlighting this vital issue although note “the remit of the new charity is to be a narrow one which is about establishing credible data around patient safety issues.”

Hugh Williams, AvMA Deputy Chief Executive, says: “More data will be valuable, but we need more action now to protect patients based on what we already know.

“This includes greater openness, a stronger commitment to involving patients and families in patient safety, and making sure lessons are learnt and changes are made when mistakes have been made.”