The Patient Safety Management Network 4 years on: "Not just a network but a movement"

Summary

This month marks a significant milestone for the Patient Safety Management Network (PSMN) as we celebrate its fourth birthday. Launched in June 2021 with just four members on its inaugural call, the Network has grown exponentially to now include almost 2000 members—a powerful testament to the need for, and value of, a connected, collaborative community focused on patient safety. PSMN founder Claire Cox reflects on its achievements, the impact it is having and how it is evolving. 

Content

Over the past 4 years, we have hosted 190 meetings, each one an opportunity for members to learn, reflect and share ideas. From January to June 2025 alone, an average of 107 people joined each session, highlighting the continued appetite for learning and improvement among safety leaders across the UK.

The Network draws together a unique and diverse membership. It includes individuals involved in patient safety from inside the NHS, outside the NHS, patient safety partners, regulators, commissioners and those on the peripheries, such as academics. We even have a contingent of safety professionals from the veterinary sector joining us!

This breadth allows the PSMN to cross organisational, professional and geographical boundaries, ensuring that a wide range of perspectives are shared and valued. At its heart, the network is committed to fostering a psychologically safe space where everyone can learn, contribute and feel supported.

A shift towards collective wisdom

While we have welcomed 75 external speakers since our inception, the past year has marked a meaningful shift in how we share knowledge. We are moving away from a traditional model of learning from outside experts to one where our Network members are the experts. This shift recognises the depth of experience and insight within the Network and underscores our commitment to shared learning.

As Patient Safety Learning noted, the power of Networks lies in their ability to connect people with a common purpose and enable the co-creation of new knowledge.[1] The PSMN has become just that: a space where members bring real-time challenges, innovative practices and lived experiences to the table, enriching the dialogue and pushing the boundaries of what is possible for patient safety.

Building a culture of openness and trust

From the outset, the ethos of the PSMN has been one of openness, humility and continuous improvement. As we noted in previous blogs,[2] the network has created a psychologically safe environment where members can speak candidly about what is and isn’t working. This culture has not only fostered trust but has also accelerated learning and adaptation across organisations.

One of our highlight meetings in the past year focused on the Duty of Candour. These two sessions led to a valuable collaboration with NHS England, NHS Resolution and the Care Quality Commission, resulting in the development of a Frequently Asked Questions resource.[3] This resource was directly shaped by the questions and discussions raised during our Network meetings, demonstrating the tangible impact of shared learning in action.

Collaboration and shared learning

Last September, we hosted a highly successful Patient Safety Learning Symposium, bringing together professionals and experts from across our Network. The event provided a dynamic platform for collaboration, with participants sharing insights and best practices to improve patient safety across care settings.

A key highlight was the depth of expertise within our Network, showcased through interactive workshops on ACCIMAP and SEIPS. These sessions enabled delegates to explore systems-based approaches to understanding and preventing harm, with practical applications for analysing incidents and designing safer processes.

Capturing our learning in print                                         

A major success for the Network has been the publication of our first book, Patient Safety: Emerging Applications of Safety Science.[4] This collaborative work showcases a series of case studies contributed by our own members, reflecting the real-world challenges and innovative approaches discussed in the Network. It stands as a lasting record of the depth and breadth of expertise within the community and has been met with widespread acclaim for its practical insights and relevance.

Building on this success, we are now in the process of writing the second book in the series. This new volume will further explore emerging themes and continue to amplify the voices of those working at the forefront of patient safety.

Impact of the Network

The Network is proud to have contributed to the working group informing the Health Services Safety Investigations Body (HSSIB) report on fatigue.[5] Recognising fatigue as a serious risk to both patient and staff safety, our involvement helped ensure the report reflects real-world challenges across healthcare. By sharing frontline insights and data, we helped highlight the systemic factors behind fatigue and the need for a national strategy.

In a further positive step, we are delighted to welcome a student from University College London (UCL) who will evaluate the Network’s impact on patient safety and wider system function. This collaboration will offer valuable insight into our progress and help guide our future work.

Looking ahead

As we celebrate this milestone, we also look forward. The next phase of the PSMN will build on the foundations we have laid together. We will continue to harness the expertise within our membership, support each other through shared challenges and champion the changes needed to deliver safer care.

To every member who has contributed to the network over the past 4 years: thank you! Your willingness to share, support and learn from one another is what makes the PSMN not just a network, but a movement.

References

1. Patient Safety Learning. Patient safety and the power of collaboration (a blog by Patient Safety Learning). Patient Safety Learning, 9 December 2024.
2. Cox C. “We’ve created an incredible pool of talented safety people who are up for collaboration.” Marking three years of the Patient Safety Management Network. Patient Safety Learning, 2023.
3. Patient Safety Learning. Patient Safety Management Network: Strengthening understanding of Duty of Candour through collaboration. Patient Safety Learning, 2025.
4. Cox C, Hughes H, Nicholls J. Patient Safety: Emerging Applications of Safety Science. Class Publishing: Bridgewater, UK; 2024.
5. HSSIB. Investigation report. The impact of staff fatigue on patient safety.  Health Services Safety Investigations Body, April 2025.

How to join the Patient Safety Management Network

You can join by signing up to the hub today. When putting in your details, please tick Patient Safety Management Network in the ‘Join a private group’ section. If you are already a member of the hub, please email [email protected].