FSRH press statement: 'Patient safety is everybody’s business'

FSRH president Dr Asha Kasliwal talks about the importance of communication and commitment to patient safety by all healthcare staff during service visits with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jeremy Hunt.

Patient safety is everybody’s business. Speaking to staff at hospital visits with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jeremy Hunt in Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, Bath and Suffolk this week, FSRH President Dr Asha Kasliwal stressed the importance of training in patient safety and safeguarding for both clinical and non-clinical staff.

The audience heard about a case of a young teenage girl who was brought to one of the clinics by her ‘aunt’. This turned out to be a child sexual exploitation (CSE) case, and the fact that non-clinical staff were the first ones to spot the signs may have made all the difference to enabling this girl’s safety.

Dr Asha Kasliwal, FSRH President, said:

“Patient safety is indeed everybody’s business. This case underscores the importance of having well-trained staff, clear communication within services and across the system as well as good leadership to ensure effective governance structures are in place to guarantee high-quality and safe patient care.

Patient safety is also FSRH’s business. We offer our 15,000 doctor and nurse members NICE-accredited evidence-based clinical guidance and service standards and are the leading professional membership body in sexual and reproductive health in the UK.

Service standards play a crucial role in making sure professionals follow standardised care procedures and promote consistency of care across all healthcare settings.

FSRH members are on the frontline of sexual and reproductive health care delivery, and as such are very well positioned to champion patient safety and safeguarding.”

Ends

Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare, 27 Sussex Place, London NW1 4RG. Charity No. 1019969.

Notes to editors:

• The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.

• For further information please contact:

Camila Azevedo
FSRH External Affairs & Standards Officer
Email: externalaffairsofficer@fsrh.org
Telephone: 02037945309