‘Putting the ‘patient’ in patient safety’: An editorial by Peter Walsh, chief executive of Action against Medical Accidents (2 December 2022)

Summary

In this editorial. Peter Walsh reflects on 20 years as Chief Executive of Action against Medical Accidents (AVMA) as he retires from the role. AvMA also marks its 40th anniversary this year, and Peter examines the organisation's unique role in focusing on patient safety and justice for patients. He highlights that healthcare systems and patient safety practice still have a long way to go in offering fairness and support to families affected by avoidable harm in healthcare, and argues that focusing on patients and their families must be a top priority when looking at system safety.

He highlights the vital role that AvMA has played in bringing Duty of Candour into law in the countries of the UK, and argues that legal action is an important right that must be retained for patients and families who have come to harm as a result of medical error. He also talks about AvMA's recent development of a Harmed Care Pathway in collaboration with the Harmed Patients Alliance, which outlines the specific set of needs that should form part of a package of care for harmed patients and families.