Decluttering for safety: Can we simply apply approaches used in de-implementing low-value care? (March 2026)

Summary

Healthcare systems are trying to reduce “low-value” work, which are tasks that waste time without improving patient outcomes. While low-value clinical treatments are identified through strong evidence, patient safety practices often originate informally and lack clear proof of benefit. Many persist because they provide emotional reassurance or a sense of protection for staff, making them harder to remove. A new article by researchers from the NIHR Yorkshire and Humber PSRC highlights that de-implementing low-value patient safety practices requires different approaches than reducing low-value clinical care, as their origins and meanings are more complex.