The Patient Safety Specialist role: a formative evaluation

Summary

The role of Patient Safety Specialist was introduced by the NHS in England in 2019, as part of wider plans designed to help improve patient safety. There are currently several hundred Specialists in place. All NHS organisations in England are required to identify at least one Patient Safety Specialist, and they will play a key role in delivering the NHS Patient Safety Strategy.

The This Institute wants a detailed understanding of the background to the Patient Safety Specialist role and its implementation to date. This study aims to offer insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with delivering improvement though a designated role like the Patient Safety Specialist.

The study aims to highlight ways to support Patient Safety Specialists and provide recommendations to NHS England about future policy and strategy around their role.