Improving patient safety by shifting power from health professionals to patients (BMJ, 3 October 2023)

Summary

The UK government's commitment to implement “Martha’s rule,” is good news for patients. It will give patients and their families an explicit right to request a second opinion if a patient’s health condition is getting worse and they feel their concerns are not being taken seriously. However, all patients are familiar with the power imbalance when they encounter health professionals. 

Patients and carers are key partners in the quest to make care safer, argues Tessa Richards in this BMJ opinion piece. Although actively co-designing research and policy on patient safety with patients and carers is now widely seen as best practice, there is still a long way to go. In her article, Tessa highlights two recent webinars with Henrietta Hughes, Patient Safety Commissioner, who is responsible for implementing Martha’s rule in NHS hospitals, and discusses patient advocacy and the new Patient Safety Partners.

Watch the Patient Safety Learning webinar with Henrietta Hughes.